Application of statistical physics to heartbeat diagnosis

We present several recent studies based on statistical physics concepts tha t can be used as diagnostic tools for heart failure. We describe the scalin g exponent characterizing the long-range correlations in heartbeat time ser ies as well as the multifractal features recently discovered in heartbeat r hythm. It is found that both features, the long-range correlations :md the multifractility, are weaker in cases of heart failure. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.