Automatic analysis of heart rate variation: II. Findings in patients attending an EMG laboratory

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Abstract
An automatic method was used to measure the heart rate variation with breathing in patients with different neuromuscular conditions attending a laboratory of electromyography (EMG). The objective was to determine the frequency of abnormalities in various conditions and the relationship between R‐R variation and different nerve conduction parameters. The percentages of reduced R‐R variation were 73% in diabetics, 35% in Guillain–Barré syndrome, 22% in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and 50% in amyloidosis. R‐R variation in diabetics was significantly correlated to most parameters of nerve conduction. In Guillain–Barré syndrome it correlated significantly with the ulnar and median M‐response amplitudes. Most patients with myopathies showed normal R‐R variation.