[Arrhythmias, autonomic function and spectral analysis of heart rate variation in patients with stable chronic pulmonary disease].

Autonomic function, the frequencies of arrhythmias, and outcome were studied in patients with stable chronic pulmonary disease (n = 67. Old tuberculosis, n = 35. Chronic pulmonary emphysema, n = 32) and in age-matched healthy elderly. The frequencies of arrhythmias were computed and spectral analysis was done with data obtained from 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring. The minimum heart rates of the patients were high. The minimum heart rate fell at night in the controls, but not in the patients. The patients had more PVCs than the controls, however sudden death due to arrhythmias did not occur. The LF/HF ratios obtained by spectral analysis of heart rate were lower in the patients than in the controls. There were no significant differences in age, respiratory rate, arterial blood gases, pulmonary-function tests, arrhythmias, or in the hourly distribution of the minimum heart rate between patients who died within 3 years and those who lived for more than 5 years. However, the LF/HF ratio in those who died was significantly lower than in the other groups. These results suggest that functional disturbance of the autonomic nervous system is related to outcome in patients with stable chronic pulmonary disease.