Summary
A novel combined HRV index incorporating both linear and nonlinear measures effectively tracks fibromyalgia impairment and pain intensity, enabling better monitoring of autonomic dysfunction in chronic pain.
Methods
Development of combined HRV grade from multiple linear and nonlinear indices
Key Findings
- Correlation dimension (D2) differs between FM patients and controls
- Combined HRV grade associated with fibromyalgia impairment
- Pain intensity correlates with combined HRV measures
- Routine assessment may detect early functional impairment
Limitations
Requires specialized analysis beyond standard HRV apps
What This Means for You
For fibromyalgia patients, HRV tracking can provide objective data about symptom severity and treatment response. While consumer devices may not capture all metrics, even basic HRV tracking can help identify patterns and triggers.
Source
Read the original paper in Sensors ↗
Added to HRV Zone: 2026-01-23