Chest-strap review highlights ECG correlations and practical measurement limits
The most frequently tested devices correlated strongly with ECG at rest and during lighter activity; everyday use remains less certain.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Polar H10 and Zephyr BioHarness 3.0, the most frequently evaluated devices, correlated strongly with ECG at rest and during light-to-moderate activity. The review also identified signal problems involving movement, fit, sweat and skin contact. Because most studies used controlled settings, performance during everyday use and broader clinical or workplace monitoring remains uncertain.
This brief uses only the abstract, which provides no pooled accuracy estimates or measurement-error ranges. Strong correlations describe how measurements vary together; they do not establish suitability for clinical decisions.
What was validated
The review covered heart rate, heart rate variability, intervals between beats and ECG waveform features. It excluded studies without a reference-standard comparison, keeping the focus on whether measurements matched established comparators.
Practical use remains a question
The authors identified discomfort during extended wear and restrictions on movement as practical concerns. They called for technical improvements and larger field studies before broader clinical and occupational use.
The original publication
A Systematic Review of Chest-Worn Sensors in Cardiac Assessment: Technologies, Advantages, and Limitations.
Machado A, Ferreira DF, Ferreira S et al.
Sensors (Basel) · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41094872
- Record checked
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