Variability of heart rate variability indexes for estimates of left ventricular hypertrophy in subjects shortly after a heart transplant*

Abstract

Heart rate variability (HRV) observed in con-secutive windows of nocturnal Holter recordings, is used to assess the development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in heart transplant (HTX) patients. Based on the relations between variability of HRV metrics estimated in windows, one can discern the appearance of LVH and also qualify the development of LVH. In particular, the graft with concentric geometry can be distinguished from the hypertrophic state. Clinical Relevance-LVH affects HRV in HTX patients in a way that can assist in the non-invasive quantification of the development of the hypertrophy