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Complex patterns of abnormal heartbeatsIndividuals having frequent abnormal heartbeats interspersed with normal heartbeats may be at an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. However, mechanistic understanding of such cardiac arrhythmias is limited. We present a visual and qualitative method to display statistical properties of abnormal heartbeats. We introduce dynamical "heartprints" which reveal characteristic patterns in long clinical records encompassing approximately 10(5) heartbeats and may provide information about underlying mechanisms. We test if these dynamics can be reproduced by model simulations in which abnormal heartbeats are generated (i) randomly, (ii) at a fixed time interval following a preceding normal heartbeat, or (iii) by an independent oscillator that may or may not interact with the normal heartbeat. We compare the results of these three models and test their limitations to comprehensively simulate the statistical features of selected clinical records. This work introduces methods that can be used to test mathematical models of arrhythmogenesis and to develop a new understanding of underlying electrophysiologic mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmia.
Document ID
20040088058
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Schulte-Frohlinde, Verena
(Boston University Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States)
Ashkenazy, Yosef
Goldberger, Ary L.
Ivanov, Plamen Ch
Costa, Madalena
Morley-Davies, Adrian
Stanley, H. Eugene
Glass, Leon
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 2002
Publication Information
Publication: Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Volume: 66
Issue: 3 Pt 1
ISSN: 1539-3755
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: P41RR13622
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Cardiopulmonary

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