Polar H10 ECG tracing - a short how to guide

Multiple previous posts in this blog have examined the Movesense Medical module and HR plus in terms of single lead ECG devices.  At a relatively moderate cost, they are able to provide accurate HRV and rhythm analysis using the premium version of Kubios software.  However, what if you just had a Polar H10 and wanted to see what your ECG rhythm looked like - could you do it?  Thanks to a comment on the blog by "Spookymuggs", I believe it can be done.  

Here is what the output looks like on an S21:

Pretty cool!

Requirements: Polar H10, spreadsheet program like Excel (for a long session), Polar Sensor Logger App for android

Shortcomings: Kubios free will not process the data, sample rate is only 125 Hz - inadequate for DFA a1 precision

Instructions:

• Install the Polar Sensor app, wear the H10 HRM
• Open the app, choose your device, pick ECG as the output type, hit start.

 

• To see the above graph, scroll to the right under graphs and it should show.  
• When you press "stop" you can save the file to your storage to view in Excel.
• Locate the file and open it with a spreadsheet program.
  
• Just plot time x voltage:

How does it look in Kubios (premium):

• An APC is easily spotted in this strip of mine
• Seems reasonable for rhythm - APC, VPC, etc
  

And the waveform:

• Not great.

Is it Kubios' fault? No.  Here is a view in the android app, magnified:

 

 

• You can only get so much resolution out of this low sample rate.

 

Comments:

• Yes, we can get a rhythm strip from a Polar H10 with just an android app.
• Detecting severe arrhythmia's should not be too difficult for those familiar with reading these tracings.
• To get either HRV or aberrant beat detection, you still need Kubios premium.
  
• Low sample rate makes DFA a1 determination a questionable no go.
• For those who think they are having abnormal beats and don't have a medical background, YMMV.