title: Depressed heart rate variability is associated with events in patients with stable coronary artery disease and preserved left ventricular function. REGRESS Study Group.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the value of heart rate variability in patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease with a preserved left ventricular function. We hypothesized that in these patients heart rate variability might be a helpful adjunct to conventional parameters to predict clinical events.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective 2-year follow-up study ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings were performed in 263 consecutive male patients (mean age 56+/-8 years) with stable angina pectoris and a mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 71%+/-12%. Clinical events consisted mainly of coronary events such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low measures of standard deviation of normal R-R intervals, standard deviation of the mean R-R intervals of 5 minutes, and two spectral components of heart rate variability were found in patients who had had an event compared with patients with no event. Adjusted for severity of angina, the presence of a previous myocardial infarction, and the use of beta-blockers in a logistic regression model this relation remained statistically significant for SDNN. Healthy volunteers appeared to have the highest measures of heart rate variability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with ischemic heart disease and normal or near normal ventricular function decreased heart rate variability is associated with adverse clinical events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van Boven
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jukema
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haaksma
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Zwinderman
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Crijns
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Lie
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002932:Cineangiography; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists