title: Universal structures of normal and pathological heart rate variability.
abstract: The circulatory system of living organisms is an autonomous mechanical system softly tuned with the respiratory system, and both developed by evolution as a response to the complex oxygen demand patterns associated with motion. Circulatory health is rooted in adaptability, which entails an inherent variability. Here, we show that a generalized N-dimensional normalized graph representing heart rate variability reveals two universal arrhythmic patterns as specific signatures of health one reflects cardiac adaptability, and the other the cardiac-respiratory rate tuning. In addition, we identify at least three universal arrhythmic profiles whose presences raise in proportional detriment of the two healthy ones in pathological conditions (myocardial infarction; heart failure; and recovery from sudden death). The presence of the identified universal arrhythmic structures together with the position of the centre of mass of the heart rate variability graph provide a unique quantitative assessment of the health-pathology gradient.
authors.affiliation: Depto. de Ingeniería Aeroespacial y Mecánica de Fluidos, Universidad de Sevilla, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfonso M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gañán-Calvo
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Clínica Santa Isabel, E-41018 Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fajardo-López
mesh_terms: D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000473:pathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology