Heart Rate Variability Assessment Early After Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Changes in heart rate variability occurred early after thrombolysis and may be of prognostic value. Heart rate variability measures were improved in patients with better ejection fraction and greater angiographic patency. This suggests a possible mechanism for the enhanced survival observed with TIMI grade 3 flow in the GUSTO angiographic substudy. These data indicate that early heart rate variability assessment after myocardial infarction may be useful in noninvasive risk stratification.