Heart Rate Variability Analysis at Coronary Artery Disease and Angina Pectoris

The purpose of this study was to present results of special examination and prospective observation of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and angina pectoris (AP) in practical cardiology. Except standard cardiological methods, we used high-resolution rhythmocardiography and apparatus-program complex for registration and analysis of the heart rate variability. There was an evaluation of the autonomic and humoral-metabolic regulative influences on pacemaker activity of the heart sinus node in 273 patients selected by criteria of including-excluding patients with CAD and AP. It was determined by high-resolution HRV-analysis that ischemic heart disease is accompanied by the sinus node autonomic and humoral disregulation. Angina pectoris was correlated to HRV-stabilization on the rhythmocardiogram during ischemic episodes. Duration and frequency of these HRV-stabilization episodes permit to describe different peculiarities of the angina pectoris in every case, to predict the complication, for example, acute coronary syndrome, to define risk of lethal outcome, to study autonomic efficacy of the same drug (nitroglycerin). Prospective observations of patients with CAD permitted to create ischemic cascade in HRV-symptoms. The following conclusion can be made. Highresolution HRV analysis is an informative and perspective method in the diagnosis and management of CAD and AP. Recent patents have also disclosed methods and apparatus to reduce heart rate variability and assessment of cardiovascular risks.