An automatic device for the assessment of cardiovascular autonomic function

Autonomic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus and is associated with significant morbidity and possibly an increase in mortality. Despite this, however, autonomic dysfunction is not usually sought in the routine assessment of diabetic patients. We report the development and testing of a small, portable and reliable device that allows the routine testing of cardiac autonomic function in the outpatient setting with minimal inconvenience to the patient. This should facilitate the accurate assessment both of patients with symptoms suggestive of autonomic dysfunction and of autonomic function in research. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.