AN IMPLANTABLE CARDIAC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING THE STATUS OF A CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

摘要

An implantable cardiac device comprises a heart stimulator (10, 12) for electricly stimulating the heart of a patient, detecting means (2, 4) for measuring a physiologic parameter which is affected by the status of a cardiovascular disease associated with sympathetic activation, signal processing means (6) for determining at least one of a low frequency, LF, and a very low frequency, VLF, Mayer wave component in the measured parameter, and an analysor for analyzing the determined Mayer wave component in relation to a predetermined reference value to determine the status of the cardiovascular disease. The detecting means comprise measuring means (2) arranged to measure, as said physiologic parameter, a mechanical change in at least one of the four chambers of the heart. In a corresponding method for monitoring the status of a cardiovascular disease associated with sympathetic activation of a patient having an implantable electric heart stimulator (10, 12) a physiologic parameter affected by the cardiac disease is measured. At least one of a low frequency, LF, and a very low frequency, VLF, Mayer wave component in the parameter is determined, and the wave component is analysed in relation to a predetermined reference value to determine the status of the cardiovascular disease. A mechanical change in at least one of the four chambers of the heart is measured as the physiologic parameter.