Author ’s Reply - A 10-second ECG-based root mean square of successive RR differences is only an approximate measure of heart rate variability

Responding to our editorial1 ,Tegegne et al confirm, in agreement with previous reports, that demographic factors (age and sex) are major determinants of RMSSD, a short-term heart rate variability (HRV) parameter. More intriguing was their finding that the contribution of lifestyle and psychosocial factors was very small.2 If one accepts, based on vast literature, that HRV analysis is the most suitable non-invasive methodology to evaluate autonomic sinus nodal modulations; it is very surprising that lifestyle or psychosocial factors would not play a major role.

Source: Heart Rhythm - November 1, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Federico Lombardi, Marek Malik Source Type: research