A computerized fuzzy logic system for evaluation of the cardiovascular autonomic function based on multiple functional tests

Abstract

The interest in the study of the Autonomic Nervous System has grown in the last years, mainly because of its important participation in the cardiovascular regulation and in many pathophysiological processes like heart failure, arrhythmias and sudden death. A great variety of tests have been employed for the functional evaluation of the Cardiovascular Autonomic Nervous System. However, the existence of variables with non-linear characteristics has made difficult the analysis of the responses. Based on this fact and considering that the Fuzzy Logic has been actually used with success in the development of classifier and analysis of control systems, its use in the investigation of the Cardiovascular Autonomic Function seems to be justified and a promise. The present paper describes the development of a system based on fuzzy logic to evaluate simultaneous cardiovascular autonomic tests results.