RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the characteristics of the heart rate variability(HRV) in the elderly bedridden patients. Methods 91 hospitalized patients (age≥60 years ) were divided into three groups according to the function independent measure: independent group (32 cases), partial dependent group (31 cases), dependent group(28 cases). Eight items of HRV were measured, including 24 hour standard deviation of successive normal-to-normal R-R interval(SDNN), total power (TP),standard deviation of all means of 5-minutes R-R interval all over 24 hour(SDANN), low frequency (LF), root mean squared successive difference(MSSD),Edingburgh Index(PNN50), high frequency(HF)and ratio of LF to HF(LF/HF). Results Seven items of HRV of the dependent group and partial dependent group were significantly lower than those of independent group (P0.05). SDNN and FIM were positively correlated (r =0.853, P=0.017). Other factors such as pathogen and the number of concomitant diseases did not affect on HRV in the elderly bedridden patients. Conclusions The HRV in the elderly bedridden patientsdecreased , the changes relatedthe decrease of the activity.