A method of assessing the cardiac arrhythmia risk in a subject to provide
a measure of cardiac or cardiovascular health in that subject is
described herein. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of:
(a) collecting at least one QT and RR interval data set from the subject;
(b) separating fluctuations from slow trends in said at least one QT and
RR interval data set; (c) comparing said QT and RR fluctuations to one
another and (d) generating from the comparison of step (c) partial
measures of risk of cardiac arrhythmia in said subject. A greater
difference between QT and RR fluctuations indicates greater risk of
cardiac arrhythmia in said subject. The data sets are collected in such a
manner that they reflect almost exclusively the conduction in the heart
muscle and minimize the effect on the data sets of rapid transients due
to autonomic nervous system and hormonal control.