Pilot study assessing the influence of skin type on the heart rate measurements obtained by photoplethysmography with the Apple Watch

Abt, Grant; De Hoyo, Moisés; Muñoz-López, Alejandro; Perry, John; Sañudo, Borja

Abstract

Photoplethysmographic imaging (PPG) is currently used to measure heart rate (HR) and the accuracy of PPG can be influenced by pigmentation of the skin; however, the effects of skin color-related artifacts on PPG during exercise remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the agreement between the Apple Watch photoplethysmography sensor and a criterion, for measuring heart rate across a range of intensities during exercise and to determine the influence of skin type on the accuracy of the measure. Forty-five males (20–43 y) completed the Fitzpatrick Skin Scale and were classified into three different skin type groups: a) types II (n = 15), III (n = 15) and IV (n = 15). Participants performed a graded incremental cycle-ergometer test while simultaneously wearing the Apple Watch and a Polar monitor as a criterion measure. Data from both devices were collected in 5-s epochs. Correlations between devices were very good (0.96–0.99 [95%CI: 0.94 to 0.99]). Significant differences were observed between skin types II and III when the intensity of the exercise was increased, albeit with trivial to small effect sizes (ES: 0.05 to 0.28). All significant differences corresponded to

Citation

Abt, G., De Hoyo, M., Muñoz-López, A., Perry, J., & Sañudo, B. (2019). Pilot study assessing the influence of skin type on the heart rate measurements obtained by photoplethysmography with the Apple Watch. Journal of Medical Systems, 43(7), Article 195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-019-1325-2

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 5, 2019
• Online Publication Date: May 22, 2019
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Deposit Date: May 7, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: May 23, 2020
• Journal: Journal of Medical Systems
• Print ISSN: 0148-5598
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-689x
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 7
• Article Number: 195
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-019-1325-2
• Keywords: Heart rate; Agreement; Wearable sensors; Exercise; Skin type
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/1739581
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10916-019-1325-2
• Contract Date: May 7, 2019