Heart rate variability: Highlights from hidden signals

Abstract

The heart rate variability (HRV), which can provide information about the balance between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic system, is accepted as an indicator of autonomic tone, which is effective on the heart. Neural remodeling developing in hearts that are affected by various diseases leads to imbalance in the autonomic activity. These changes that may occur in the autonomic nervous system may lead to ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death through negatively affecting the cardiac rhythm. HRV has been evaluated in many cardiac, neurological and rheumatological diseases in recent years and has come into the foreground as an important marker of mortality. In this review, we aimed to introduce the parameters used in HRV measurements and analyze the conditions that could influence these measurements (maneuver, diseases or drugs, etc).