Analysis of heart rate variability in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia leading to disability. It is associated with increased risk of stroke and increased mortality. Currently, studies of autonomic nervous system in patients with atrial fibrillation as pathogenetic mechanism of paroxysms are in the interest of the cardiologists. Nervous regulation of the heart rate has complex hierarchical structure and includes extracardiac and intracardiac systems. The aim of the study was to assess heart rate variability in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, assess changes in heart rate variability on the background of the therapy. We examined 124 people ages from 40 to 65 yo. The first group included patients with coronary heart disease combined with hypertension stage I-II and persistent atrial fibrillation (n=62). The second group consisted of 31 patients with ischemic heart disease and persistent atrial fibrillation without hypertension. The third group was control (n=31). The study of HRV was performed at rest, by writing the 5-minute RR intervals. Analysis of HRV allows to make optimal choice of drug and it dose. HRV in patients with coronary artery disease should be analyzed in the dynamics.