New insights into ventricular tachyarrhythmia onset using heart rate signals decomposition

Presents new insights into ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VTA) onset based on a large population of patients implanted with cardiovertor-defibrillators. The analysis method consists in the decomposition of heart rate signals according to the main physiological frequency bands. The evolution of temporal and spectral indices is assessed separately for each band at two-minute intervals. On the overall population, the results suggest a sustained sympathetic activity prior to VTA onset, a progressive increase in sympathetic tone and a decrease in parasympathetic modulation of the heart at the onset of VTA. Moreover, distinctions are made for three cardiopathies: coronary artery disease, dilatative cardiomyopathy and primary electrical disease. Subsequent results pave the way for promising advances in the understanding of arrhythmic events.