Effects of irbesartan on 24-hour heart rate variability in patients with heart failure

Objective To explore the change of 24-hour heart rate variability(HRV) in patients with heart failure(HF) and the effects of irbesartan on the function of cardiac nerve system.Methods Altogether 130 patients with HF of different degrees were enrolled and randomly divided into 2 groups: an Irbesartan group with irbesartan treatment in 68 patients and a control group with conventional treatment in 62 patients.The 24-hour HRV was measured before and after the treatment.Results The 24-hour HRV had no difference in different time zones in patients with HF(P0.05),suggesting that circadian rhythm of HRV in HF patients disappeared.But treatment with irbesartan for 8 weeks significantly increased the 24-hour HRV and recovered daily rhythmicity in HF patients compared with the conventional treatment or before the irbesartan treatment(P0.05).Conclusion HRV may predict the state and monitor the prognosis of patients with heart failure.Irbesartan has a beneficial effect on the autonomic nervous system of heart in HF patients.