Influence of beta-adrenergic blockade defined by time series analysis on circadian variation of heart rate and ambulatory myocardial ischemia.

Extended (72-hour) ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring was used to enable time series analysis of heart rate and asymptomatic ST-segment depression in 9 patients with severe coronary artery disease. The effects of beta 1-adrenergic blockade with optimal dose metoprolol were then assessed. Data were analyzed using Fourier transformation, autocorrelation and cross-correlation to examine possible coupling between heart rate and ischemic electrocardiographic changes. A marked circadian pattern was observed for both heart rate and ambulatory myocardial ischemia, with a period of approximately 24 hours by both Fourier and autocorrelation methods. Cross-correlation revealed heart rate and ischemia to be tightly coupled with a lag of 0 hours during placebo. During beta 1 adrenergic blockade the marked circadian variation in heart rate was diminished, although some periodicity in the 24-hour region remained. Ambulatory ischemia was also markedly diminished during beta 1-adrenergic blockade; however, some residual ischemia remained that was characterized by a peak spectral activity shifted to a period of 5 to 7 hours. Heart rate and ischemia were not coupled during beta 1-adrenergic blockade, as evidenced by lack of significant cross-correlation. Thus, time series analysis suggests close coupling between the variation in heart rate and ambulatory ischemia in patients with severe coronary artery disease. Beta 1-adrenergic blockade can markedly alter the periodic characteristics of and coupling between heart rate and ischemia. Ischemia remaining during beta 1-adrenergic blockade may have different spectral characteristics than that predominating during placebo administration. These differences may be manifestations of the heterogenous pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for ambulatory ischemia and may have therapeutic implications.