Detrended Fluctuation Analysis on Cardiac Pulses in Both, Animal Models and Humans: A Computation for an Early Prognosis of Cardiovascular Disease

• Main Authors: Toru Yazawa, Katsunori Tanaka, Tomoyuki Nagaoka, Tomoo Katsuyama
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Institute of Informatics and Cybernetics 2008-04-01
• Series: Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics
• Online Access: http://www.iiisci.org/Journal/CV$/sci/pdfs/T733SC.pdf

We analyzed the heartbeat interval by the detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) in models and humans. In models, the myocardium of the healthy heart contracted regularly. The deteriorated heart model, however, showed alternating beats so-called "alternans." The DFA revealed that if the heart is having "alternans" exhibited there is a declined scaling exponent (~0.5). In humans, the heart that had "alternans" also showed a low scaling exponent (~0.6). We consider that the coexistence of "alternans" and a low scaling exponent can be a risk marker in predictive and preventative diagnosis, supporting the idea that "alternans" can be a harbinger of sudden death.