The aging process in healthy subjects is associated with a decrease in capability response and a reduction in physiological complexity of heart rate variability.
Observational
A novel discrete model using Shannon entropy demonstrates that physiological complexity of heart rate variability decreases with aging.
In the present work, we propose a discrete model to the characterization of heart rate variability (HRV) complexity in the aging process of healthy subjects. We apply the Shannon entropy on the basis of an alternative way to probability calculation and to define a new index taking into consideration the transition probability that is related to the physiological complexity of the system. Our results suggest that in the aging process the capability response decreases according to the reduction of the physiological complexity. In the oldest group, an alternative mechanism emerges to compensate for this lack of capability; however, this effect does not increase the physiological complexity. Concomitantly, we provide some physiological explanation for our results.
Tejera et al. (Mon,) conducted a observational in Healthy subjects. Aging process was evaluated on Heart rate variability (HRV) complexity. The aging process in healthy subjects is associated with a decrease in capability response and a reduction in physiological complexity of heart rate variability.