Heart rate variability assessment — physiological and pathological aspects

A significant relationship between autonomic nervous system function and cardiovascular mortality, including sudden death, has been reported. Loss of heart rate variability (HRV) is a strong predictor of mortality in patients post-infarction or with heart failure, but also in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. The evaluation of the cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in diabetes mellitus is done with the help of some non invasive tests, and lately with a 24 hour Holter monitoring.