Software for advanced HRV analysis

Abstract

A computer program for advanced heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is presented. The program calculates all the commonly used time- and frequency-domain measures of HRV as well as the nonlinear Poincaré plot. In frequency-domain analysis parametric and nonparametric spectrum estimates are calculated. The program generates an informative printable report sheet which can be exported to various file formats including the portable document format (PDF). Results can also be saved as an ASCII file from which they can be imported to a spreadsheet program such as the Microsoft Excel. Together with a modern heart rate monitor capable of recording RR intervals this freely distributed program forms a complete low-cost HRV measuring and analysis system.