Methodology and Clinical Applications of Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Analysis

This is the fourth book in a series dealing with the methodological aspects of comptuer analysis of blood pressure and heart rate variability and with the pathophysiological and clinical relevance of the information derivable from this approach. The book describes new technical developments in estimating spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity from blood pressure and heart rate beat by-beat signals and illustrates the possible diagnostic and prognostic value of the assessment of the spontaneous baroreflex function in daily-life. The latest methodological advancements in the assessment of blood pressure and heart rate variability through linear and non-linear techniques, descriptors of chaotic dynamics and time-frequency distributions are also addressed. Finally, the book focuses on the neural and non-neural physiological mechanisms responsible for blood pressure and heart rate variability and on the alterations in variability induced by the derangement of these mechanisms in case of cardiovascular or systemic diseases. The result is a comprehensive overview of the most recent progress in the area and is intended to constitute a useful reference for engineers, physiologists and clinicians working in this challenging and rapidly evolving field.