DYNAMICS PRECEDING ONSET AND TERMINATION OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA

The dynamics before transition from a normal heart rhythm into, and out of Atrial Fibrillation and Ventricular Tachycardia, two common cardiac arrhythmias, is still unknown. Using ECG data, we established that the transition for both onset and termination of the two arrhythmias is preceded by a dynamical phenomenon known as ‘flickering’. Flickering could be used as part of an early warning or screening system, and guide the development of new pharmaceuticals and control methods for prevention and intervention of the arrhythmias. The methods developed in this thesis may also be adapted for study of other chronic episodic diseases.