Nonlinear analysis of cardiac rythm fluctuations using DFA method

Abstract

After a brief overview of classical techniques used to explore cardiac rhythm variability, we show how the DFA method can help diagnose heart failure. Our clinical study reveals that the DFA c coefficient of the cardiac rhythm is an efficient predictor of the future health of patients suffering from Congestive Heart Failure. Moreover, we introduce a new coefficient which measures the scale invariance in the cardiac rhythm. This new coefficient appears to be related to the subsequent evolution of the patients