Evaluation of autonomic nervous function for elderly people using electrocardiogram and plethysmogram

In this study, we have been developing a health check device, “Pulse Wave Checker” which is used to obtain indices representing the autonomic nervous function based on photoplethysmogram. This device aims at evaluation of the function easily and safely even at temporary houses after the Disaster. A respiratory control task has been used to quantify the effects of the task on the change in the autonomic nervous characteristic. This paper will discuss the adequacy of the proposed method on the basis of experimental results obtained from 71 subjects consisting of old and young groups. As a result, it suggests that a few kinds of indices representing the dynamic characteristics between the pulse transit time and the heart rate can evaluate the change in autonomic nervous function.