Ignoring lack of association of heart rate variability with cardiovascular disease and risk factors: response to the manuscript "The relationship of autonomic imbalance, heart rate variability cardiovascular disease risk factors" by Julian F. Thayer, Shelby S. Yamamoto, Jos F. Brosschot.

A reduced heart rate variability (HRV) is a marker of autonomic dysfunction and has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, especially regarding the association of HRV with cardiovascular risk factors the literature is rather inconsistent. We therefore critically discuss the review of Thayer et al. concerning the relationship between autonomic imbalance, heart rate variability and cardiovascular disease risk factors.