We measure the content of random uncorrelated noise in heart rate variability using a general method of noise level estimation using a coarse grained entropy. We show that usually - except for atrial fibrillation - the level of such noise is within 5 - 15% of the variance of the data and that the variability due to the linearly correlated processes is dominant in all cases analysed but atrial fibrillation. The nonlinear deterministic content of heart rate variability remains significant and may not be ignored.
Cite
@article{arxiv.physics/0611137,
title = {How random is your heart beat?},
author = {K. Urbanowicz and J. J. Zebrowski and R. Baranowski and J. A. Holyst},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:physics/0611137},
year = {2009}
}