IMPROVED DETECTION OF CARDIAC DYSFUNCTION

摘要

A method of measuring heart function of a patient comprises the step of performing an electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement of the patient over a continuous time interval having a specified duration, to obtain a corresponding sequence of ECG data. The sequence of ECG data is divided into a plurality of subsequences, each of which is processed to obtain a corresponding plurality of subsequence index values. In particular, the processing comprises extracting data corresponding with specified ECG signal segments, determining a time derivative of the extracted data, and generating a subsequence index value which is representative of energy in said time derivative. A statistical mean value and a statistical variation value of the plurality of subsequence index values are calculated, and used to compute a heart function index value which is a measure of heart function of the patient. Systems and apparatus implementing the method are also provided. The invention advantageously enables a preliminary assessment of possible abnormality of heart function of a patient based upon a single ECG measurement.