Reed, M J, Addison, Paul and Robertson, C E (2005) Heart rate variability measurements and the prediction of ventricular arrhythmias. QJM, 98 (2). pp. 87-95. ISSN 1460-2725

Abstract/Description

Heart rate variability (HRV) is the temporal variation
between sequences of consecutive heartbeats. It is possible that HRV confers a survival advantage.In normal subjects, a variable heart rate is the normal physiological state. A loss of variability is associated with an increased mortality in patients post myocardial
infarction.Initially, the focus of HRV investigation was its use in the prediction of long-term survival in patients
who had suffered myocardial infarction, or had
valvular or congestive heart disease. More recently,
work has concentrated on attempts to predict the
timing of onset of fatal VTAs. Given the poor results
currently achieved in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest,
efforts directed towards the identification of VTAs
are crucial.61 The area of HRV behaviour before the
onset of life-threatening VTAs offers exciting possibilities.Newer improved analytical techniques
such as wavelet analysis, together with improved
processing power, have simplified and speeded up
signal acquisition and analysis.

Actions (login required)