Prediction of maintenance of sinus rhythm using heart rate variability characteristics after conversion in patients with atrial fibrillation

The goal was to find out the informative characteristics of heart rate variability (HRV) after the conversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) for prediction of maintenance of sinus rhythm (SR). HRV parameters were obtained in two ways: from Poincare plots and from spectral analysis. Sustained sinus rhythm patient group displayed significantly higher HRV with no difference in baseline HR frequency calculated from Poincare plot, but not from power spectrum. A model based on binary logistic regression of HRV parameters calculated from both models for prediction of patients groups with sustained sinus rhythm or broken one was created. An increased HRV (SDRR) and a decreased minimal and an increased maximal RR intervals on Poincare plot as well as increased HFC, decreased VLFC and relative LFC from power spectrum, might be used for prediction of maintenance of SR