Test–Retest Reliability and Concurrent Validity of Photoplethysmography Finger Sensor to Collect Measures of Heart Rate Variability

The purpose of the current study was to determine the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of a photoplethysmography (PPG) finger sensor when collecting heart rate variability (HRV) metrics in reference to electrocardiography (ECG) and heart rate monitor (HRM) devices. Five minutes of R-R interval data were collected from 45 participants (23 females; age: 23.13 ± 4.45 yrs; body mass index: 25.39 ± 4.13 kg/m²) in the supine and seated positions in testing sessions 48 h apart. <i>Moderate-to-excellent</i> test-retest reliability of the HRV data collected from the PPG sensor was identified (ICC_2,1 = 0.60-0.93). Additionally, similar standard errors of the mean, coefficient of variation, and minimal detectable change metrics were observed across all devices. Statistically significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05) differences were identified in the HRV data between the PPG sensor and ECG and HRM devices; however, these differences were interpreted as <i>trivial-to-small</i> (<i>g</i> = 0.00-0.59). Further, the PPG sensor tended to only overestimate HRV metrics by <0.5 ms and <i>near perfect</i> relationships (<i>r</i> = 0.91-1.00) and <i>very large-to-near perfect</i> agreement (CCC = 0.81-1.00) were identified between collection methods. The PPG sensor demonstrated adequate test-retest reliability and concurrent validity in both the supine and seated resting positions.