Observer variations in short period spectral analysis of heart rate variability.

25% of the corresponding mean LF/HF ratio. The smallest interobserver variations were found for the 'fixed frequency' method. The data showed that it is advantageous to select the 3-min ECG periods but not to select the frequency regions. Selection of the latter led to an increase in interobserver variation. The results of this study give a realistic impression of the intrasubject and interobserver variation to be expected when measuring the LF/HF ratio. This variation is considerable.