HRVanalysis

Screenshots provide an overall view of the software. For practical details, please refer to the Tutorial accessible from HRVanalysis "Help" menu.

Main window

The main program window displays the RR interval series to be analyzed. The toolbar and control buttons in the main window provide quick access to several functions. The File menu allows the user to open files of data extracted from EKG or RR files, set preferences, send emails, export RR series, and save or print the main figure. The RR menu contains the options for RR preprocessing before analysis. Here, the user can enter the recording start time and night time, correct ectopic or erroneous beats, exclude parts of the signal, insert labeled events and areas of interest, and manage the RR display in the main figure. The Analysis menu allows calculating the linear and nonlinear standard indices of HRV, running a time-frequency analysis, and running a batch analysis for higher numbers of files.

24h/day/night linear and nonlinear analyses

These windows display the HRV analyses performed for long-term recordings, for example, using the 24-hour ambulatory Holter system. The analyses are computed for day, night, and entire recording periods.

Analysis on sequential epochs

This analysis allows calculating changes in the FFT indices for successive epochs along the entire signal. The epoch duration is selected from a list of preset values ranging from 5 minutes to 1 hour duration.

Local linear and nonlinear analysis

This analysis calculates linear and nonlinear indices of HRV variability for the RR part of the signal, which is selected from the main window using the zoom function.

Analysis on surrounding events

Another analysis is available for the cumulative changes in HRV indices surrounding a single event or repeatedly calibrated events entered by the user.

Wavelets analysis

This analysis is performed on the RR part of the signal that is zoomed in the main window.

Preferences

Several options are provided for data management and display and for setting the HRV analysis parameters. The Preferences window is opened by selecting the File/Preferences menu or the corresponding toolbar button.

RR and EKG importation

Data can be imported from EKG or RR files. The available formats for EKG data are EDF, ISHNE®, Binary, .txt, MATLAB®. Once the EKG file is selected, the R peaks are detected automatically, as described above. Preformatted RR files can be imported from Holter systems and heart rate monitors such as Vista Novacor, Aria Delmar, NeuroCoach, Suunto, and Polar. To import RR series from other devices, usually in .txt format, a generic import window allows selecting the rows, columns, separators, dots, and RR units to import.

RR value correction

Three methods are accessible to correct ectopic and false beat:

1) automated algorithm

2) by editing RR values

3) by deleting/inserting the R-peaks diretely on the EKG signal (if available)

Inserting an area of interest or events

The user can set events or areas of interest along the RR signal.

Batch analyses

All the above-described HRV analyses can be performed in batch mode to enable processing a wide series of RR files without running repetitive operations.