Authors:
Fernanda S. Leite
;
Adson F. da Rocha
and
João L. A. Carvalho
Affiliation:
University of Brasília, Brazil
Keyword(s):
Detrended fluctuation analysis, DFA, Heart rate variability, HRV.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Applications and Services
;
Bioinformatics
;
Biomedical Engineering
;
Biomedical Signal Processing
;
Computer Vision, Visualization and Computer Graphics
;
Education and Training
;
Medical Image Detection, Acquisition, Analysis and Processing
;
Physiological Processes and Bio-Signal Modeling, Non-Linear Dynamics
;
Simulation and Modeling
;
Simulation Tools and Platforms
Abstract:
The analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) is an important tool for the assessment of the autonomic regulation of circulatory function. HRV analysis is usually performed using methods that are based on the assumption that the signal is stationary within the experiment duration, which is generally not true for long-duration signals (e.g., 24-hour Holter) or signals acquired during stress tests. This paper presents a Matlab tool for detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) of HRV signals. DFA is applicable in the context of nonstationary signals, since it involves removing fluctuation trends from the signal. The software is validated using simulated signals with different power-law characteristics, and then demonstrated using real HRV signals, obtained from three groups of subjects: healthy volunteers, individuals with Chagas disease, and individuals with mild to moderate hypertension.