Mikuláš Szakács, Peter Mitro
Certain abnormalities of an autonomic function in the setting of a structural cardiovascular disease have been associated with adverse prognosis. Various markers of autonomic activity have received increased attention as methods for identifying patients at risk for sudden death. Heart rate turbulence (HRT) describes short-term fluctuations in sinus cycle length that follow ventricular premature complexes. It is a relatively new but already well-established non-invasive ECG risk predictor. It has been confirmed as a strong predictor of mortality in large populations of post-infarction patients. There have been contradictory results regarding its predictive value in other high-risk population. Further studies are needed to establish the need for more precise place of methodology in stratification scheme of different clinical conditions.