Chronocardiology and Chronotherapy

Abstract

Chrono-cardiology is the science which refers to cardiovascular function and dysfunction according to time structure. Guidelines from various agencies for the management of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) emphasize that the necessity, choice and intensity of treatment should be determined by the individual’s probability of an event (risk) within a given period which predisposes to CVD and deaths. There is little consideration to chronotherapy based on data collected, for example, during the 24 hours, which can fail to detect vascular variability disorders not yet popularly known among cardiologists. A knowledge of chronocardiology and chronotherapy may be useful in reducing the dose of the agent as well as its adverse effects while providing several fold greater benefit, thereby optimising therapeutic efficacy and toxicity.