title: Measurement of heart rate variability.
abstract: Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of autonomic nervous system balance/imbalance. Measurement and analysis of HRV can be classified into time domain analysis and frequency domain analysis. Time domain analysis is a general measure of autonomic nervous system balance and is based on altered versions of the measurement of the standard deviation of heart period, defined in terms of the sinus R-R intervals over time. There are six commonly used time domain measurements: SDANN, 24-hr SD, SD, RMSSD, RR50, and % RR50. Frequency domain analysis uses either autoregressive or fast Fourier transform techniques to delineate parasympathetic (high-frequency components) from sympathetic (low-frequency components) of autonomic control. This study explores the clinical applications of HRV with respect to respiratory sinus arrhythmia, exercise, mortality, sudden cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, and congestive heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cowan
mesh_terms: D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted