HEART RATE VARIABILITY AND TURBULENCE AS PREDICTORS OF IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATOR DISCHARGE.

This article focuses on a study related to heart rate variability and turbulence as predictors of implantable cardioverter defibrillator discharge. 24 hour ECG markers of cardiac autonomic function, heart rate variability (HRV), and heart rate turbulence (HRT) are known to stratify the risk of arrhythmic death in cardiovascular disease. Their utility in selecting candidates who might benefit from an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has not been studied. HRT was easily obtained from all patients and unlike conventional 24 hour HRV, distinguished those who benefited from ICD implantation.