Clinical application of heart rate variability

Abstract

In this article, clinical researches on heart rate variability (HRV) were reviewed, and some problems to solve were arranged. First of all, depression of HRV in acute myocardiac infarction is paid attention as not only prognostic index but also a comprehensive predictor of risk in this disease prevention. Additionally, clinical researches on HRV including circulatory system such as cardiac failure, and psychosomatic medicine were introduced. Next, we mentioned about the limitation of clinical application of HRV. The methodology of frequency analysis is a problem because it has not been standardized. Moreover, it is inadequate to evaluate function of autonomic nervous system only from HRV. Clinical application of HRV is clearly recognized as a predictor of risk of arrhythmic events or sudden cardiac death after acute myocardiac infarction and as a clinical marker of evolving diabetic neuropathy. Finally, the view of a clinical application of HRV in the future was described.