Does the Charge 4 calculate HRV accurately?

[Seanseaton]

I have been recently playing with new hrv update and after some benchmarks, research from experts and manual calculations it appears that hrv measures are inaccurate in general across all advanced watches and bands.  Is this the case for you as well?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[PatrickUMB]

My HRV has consistently been between 10 and 20. HRV seems to be a fitness gimmick because I work in the medical field and ive never heard it being used in a medical setting ever. So I wouldnt put any stock in that.

[ChrisB1966]

Yes, if I took some of the results at face value I'd need to go to my doctor. I get the impression that once past the light exercise phase Charge 4 is out of its depth. If they are wise a 'fixed' Charge 5 would be offered to people who have Charge 4's and Premium at a good discount in the next few months.

[RhiannonBryant]

I am so happy to find this discussion,. I usually just check my heart beat/ resting hear rate which does seem accurate - and today i clicked on HRV and noticed that fitbit surprisingly gives no benchmarks so googled it

and surprised mine was way lower than it should be. Having said that i also found a ton of different averages available on various sites - but the lowest average i saw was 30.  I plan to ask my doc when i next see him 🤷‍:female_sign: 

 

[SunsetRunner]

My HRV has been anywhere from 18 to 40. I am a 35 yr old male. This seems quite low. Average is probably around 27 for me. Glad to see I’m not alone. It also seems the lower the resting hr during a night’s sleep equates to a somewhat higher HRV. If my heart rate overnight averages 67 or so my hrv will not around 20-22. If my sleeping heart rate is in upper 50s I get a hrv between 30-40.

[Zests]

Just got Polar H10 and using Elite HRV app. With Charge 3 am getting between 25 and 17 rmssd. It’s early days (only two morning readings) but with H10 am getting 37 on rmssd reading which puts puts me in much better position for my age compared to research reports out there....

[AMR75]

It really is quite a relief to read. Today mine was 17 and has consistently been low in 20ies so it worried me a little as I do have chronic health issues (but my heart should be doing just fine)

Thanks for sharing everyone!

[Milo007]

Same here. I’m 35 in good shape and getting HRV Readiings in the 20s....I was surprised but after reading this thread in inclined to think the Fitbit is not reliable as far as it concerns this feature 

[Tjht]

I got 19 and was thinking I am in trouble if this thing is accurate!!

[Milo007]

My conclusions so far :

1. chances are this hrv thing and many other measurements in the Fitbit are bull**ahem**

2. this thread is full of hyponchondriacs lol 

[Zests]

Okay - I got the H10 chest strap as measuring HRV each morning using the EliteHRV to compare with the overnight readings from the fitbit. I don't know what this means as the two readings don't really seem to relate much to each other. I'm inclined to believe the Elite readings more as their variation corresponds a bit more closely to my exercise level - ie. lower after exercise or if I slept badly. They are also a bit higher and put me in what seems to be about the average for my age in contrast to the Fitbit ones. 

But my sense from this is that the Fitbit readings are on the low side and don't seem that reliable. 

Fitbit ms (rMSSD)	HR10 ms (rMSSD)
17	30
20	36
27	30
26	27
24	38
24	29
25	32
27	21
17	25
24	36
22	28

[Coolfood]

Hi, I hope this suggestion could help, if we reach enough votes, Fitbit should have a look at this matter. I didn’t see any other suggestions about this matter.

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Suggestions/Improve-HRV-measurements-accuracy/idi-p/4853102

[UsernameTaken9]

I am a 37 year old long distance triathlete currently training around 10 hours a week, actual restock HR <50 (not the Fitbit one… strange algorithms at work there). My HRV is coming through as 26-28ms. I bought this device specifically for HRV but am starting to think that was a mistake. 

------------------------------------------

Resting HR even.

[Deirdre628]

Well that’s a bit of a relief... I’m starting to think I’ll drop any
moment! lol --

Moderator edit: removed personal info

[ioncube]

I use HRVInspector with Polar H10 ...it doesnt give any HRV score but what it does give are RMSSD, PNN20 & PNN50 which are important variables to study!

For reference numbers

https://elitehrv.com/normal-heart-rate-variability-age-gender

 

[Nicola_grec]

A mond ago I began to run outside again , also the gyms are now open and I go to gym also . 
my HRV now is 38 , two months ago it was 20 , I was thinking that Fitbit was wrong on that , cause I taught that I’m a fit man of 53 years . But now I think that my assessment about the Fitbit and myself, was wrong . Cause now I see that I getting fitter on the Fitbit HRV . And I feel it also . 

[PremiumIsARipof]

I exercise daily, perfect weight, lo cholesterol, near vegan almost no alcohol, no meds, low hr,  etc and I’m always in the 20s.  This thing doesn’t work. 

[CoffeeAddict061]

My HRV was 9ms the other night while I was asleep! Usually between 14-16 so has me a little concerned. 

[ChrisC1969]

can you take me step by step where to find HRV score? I know where the cardio score is located. Thanks!

I am a 51 year old male. 5’ 10” and minimal cardio shape. I don’t drink or smoke and weigh 166. My hrv on the metrics at night runs around 42-45 and cardio level shows up as excellent at 48. I do walk a couple of miles a day but that’s about it. I usually do 10,000 steps a day. Not sure if the measurements are accurate. Never been an athlete but I watch what I eat and only eat organic and natural foods. No fast fast foods or fried foods.

Moderator edit: merged reply

[Kgou]

If you arr looking to compare numbers to other people, I think the cardio
fitness and HRV numbers are not that accurate. Like you, I am reasonably
healthy, but the cardio score seems higher than it should be for someone
who doesn't do cardio exercises, and the HRV seems low. But the device is
not a calibrated medical instrument, so I wouldn't expect that much
absolute accuracy. It does detect changes though; all the numbers were
affected when I had my vaccination. So changes are probably more meaningful
than the actual numbers.

[Sarahm1973]

Omg, I just checked mine for the first time today (that’s why I’m here) and my 7 day average is 13??? I’m super freaked out and wondering what I should do. 😫