Abstract

We present several recent studies based on statistical physics concepts that can be used as diagnostic tools for heart failure. We describe the scaling exponent characterizing the long-range correlations in heartbeat time series as well as the multifractal features recently discovered in heartbeat rhythm. It is found that both features, the long-range correlations :md the multifractility, are weaker in cases of heart failure. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.