The Impact of Heart Rate Variability Monitoring on Preventing Severe Cardiovascular Events

Abstract

The increase in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases worldwide raises concerns about the urgent need to increase definite measures for the self-determination of different parameters, especially those defining cardiac function. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive method used to evaluate autonomic nervous system modulation on the cardiac sinus node, thus describing the oscillations between consecutive electrocardiogram R-R intervals. These fluctuations are undetectable except when using specialized devices, with ECG Holter monitoring considered the gold standard. HRV is considered an independent biomarker for measuring cardiovascular risk and for screening the occurrence of both acute and chronic heart diseases. Also, it can be an important predictive factor of frailty or neurocognitive disorders, like anxiety and depression. An increased HRV is correlated with rest, exercise, and good recovery, while a decreased HRV is an effect of stress or illness. Until now, ECG Holter monitoring has been considered the gold standard for determining HRV, but the recent decade has led to an accelerated development of technology using numerous devices that were created specifically for the pre-hospital self-monitoring of health statuses. The new generation of devices is based on the use of photoplethysmography, which involves the determination of blood changes at the level of blood vessels. These devices provide additional information about heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), step counting, physical activity, and sleep monitoring. The most common devices that have this technique are smartwatches (used on a large scale) and chest strap monitors. Therefore, the use of technology and the self-monitoring of heart rate and heart rate variability can be an important first step in screening cardiovascular pathology and reducing the pressure on medical services in a hospital. The use of telemedicine can be an alternative, especially among elderly patients who are associated with walking disorders, frailty, or neurocognitive disorders.

ECG-Free Heartbeat Detection in Seismocardiography and Gyrocardiography Signals Provides Acceptable Heart Rate Variability Indices in Healthy and Pathological Subjects

“…The analysis of HRV has been recognized as a valuable diagnostic tool as it provides early warning signs for autonomic impairments in many life-threatening cardiac and non-cardiac diseases [1][2][3][4][5][6]. HRV analysis is a critical task in the monitoring of people at high risk for sudden cardiac death, such as post-infarction survivors, individuals affected by congestive heart failure, valvular dysfunctions or cardiomyopathies, heart transplantation recipients, or subjects with a history of myocardial ischemia [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Abnormalities in the physiological modulation of heart rhythm are also associated with different non-cardiac diseases.…”

Analysis of the correlation between heart rate variability and palpitation symptoms in female patients with long COVID

“…Autonomic dysfunction originates from disorders that directly affect the autonomic nerves and also reflects changes in autonomic function secondary to cardiac or other disorders (9). Heart rate variability (HRV) is one of the strongest predictors of autonomic function.…”

“…The frequency-domain parameters assessed are: (a) Total Power (TP); (b) Very Low-Frequency Power (VLF); (c) Low-Frequency Power (LF); (d) High-Frequency Power (HF) and (e) LF/HF(17). The time-domain parameters and frequency-domain parameters have well-defined meanings and established theories, and they have been extensively utilized in clinical studies(9).…”