R-DECO: An open-source Matlab based graphical user interface for the detection and correction of R-peaks

Abstract

Many of the existing ECG toolboxes focus on the derivation of heart rate variability features from RR-intervals. By doing so, they assume correct detection of the QRS-complexes. However, it is highly likely that not all detections are correct. Therefore, it is recommended to visualize the actual R-peak positions in the ECG signal and allow manual adaptations. In this paper we present R-DECO, an easy-to-use graphical user interface for the detection and correction of R-peaks. Within R-DECO, the R-peaks are detected by an adaptation of the Pan-Tompkins algorithm. Instead of using all the pre-processing steps of the latter algorithm, the proposed algorithm uses only an envelope-based procedure to flatten the ECG and enhance the QRS-complexes. The algorithm obtained an overall sensitivity of 99.60% and PPV of 99.69% on the MIT/BIH arrhythmia database. Additionally, R-DECO includes support for several input data formats for ECG signals, three basic filters, the possibility to load other R-peak locations and intuitive methods to correct ectopic, wrong, or missed heartbeats. All functionalities can be accessed via the graphical user interface and the analysis results can be exported as Matlab or Excel files. The software is publicly available. Through its easy-to-use-graphical user interface, R-DECO allows both clinicians and researchers to use all functionalities, without previous knowledge.