Performance assessment of standard algorithms for dynamic R-T interval measurement: comparison between R-T_apex and R-T_end approach

Abstract

Three automatic approaches to ventricular repolarisation duration measurement (R-T_apex, R-T_{end threshold} and R-T_{end fitting} methods) are compared on computer-generated and real ECG signals, in relation to their reliability in the presence of the most common electrocardiographic artefacts (i.e. additive broadband noise and additive and multiplicative periodical disturbances). Simulations permit the evaluation of the amount of R-T beat-to-beat variability induced by the artefacts. The R-T_{end threshold} method performs better than the R-T_{end fitting} one, and, hence, the latter should be used with caution when R-T_end variability is addressed. Whereas the R-T_apex method is more robust with regard to broadband noise than the R-T_{end threshold} one, the reverse situation is observed in the presence of periodical amplitude modulations. A high level of broadband noise does not prevent the detection of the central frequency of underlying R-T periodical changes. Comparison between the power spectra of the beat-to-beat R-T variability series obtained from three orthogonal ECG leads (X,Y,Z) is used to assess the amount of real and artefactual variability in 13 normal subjects at rest. The R-T_apex series displays rhythms at high frequency (HF) with a percentage power on the Z lead (57.1±4.9) greater than that on the X and Y leads (41.9±4.6 and 46.1±4.9, respectively), probably because of respiratory-related artefacts affecting the Z lead more remarkably. More uniform HF power distributions over X,Y,Z leads are observed in the R-T_{end threshold} series (31.8 ±3.8, 39.2±4.1 and 35.1±4.2, respectively), thus suggesting minor sensitivity of the R-T_{end threshold} measure to respiratory-related artefacts.