Scaling and universality in heart rate variability distributions.
We find that a universal homogeneous scaling form describes the distribution of cardiac variations for a group of healthy subjects, which is stable over a wide range of time scales.  However, a similar scaling function does not exist for a group with a common cardiopulmonary instability associated with sleep apnea. Subtle differences in the distributions for the day- and night-phase dynamics for healthy subjects are detected.
Ivanov PCh
Department of Physics, Boston University, MA 02215, USA.
Rosenblum
M G
MG
Peng
C K
CK
Mietus
J E
JE
Havlin
S
S
Stanley
H E
HE
Goldberger
A L
AL
D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D017709:Fractals; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors