Long term heart rate variability is used for prediction of sudden cardiac death (SD). There are simpler methods of assessment of autonomic cardiac control - registration of heart rate response to reflex tests and determination of heart rate variability (HRV) on short ECG recordins. Comparative value for prognosis of SD after myocardial infarction (MI) of these 3 techniques has not been studied yet. METHODS: Valsalva maneuver with calculation of Valsalva ratio (VR) and deep breath test with calculation of difference between average maximal and minimal HR during first minute of test (HR difference - HRD) were performed in 188 patients on days 4-11 of MI (68.1% men, age 34-75 years, 93.6% on beta-blockers, without heart failure NYHA IV on the day of tests). Time and frequency domain HRV measures were assessed during 15 min at bed rest and at Holter monitoring for median 24 h on the same day as reflex tests. RESULTS: During follow up for 2.1+/-0.8 years there were 9 sudden and 13 non-sudden cardiac deaths. ROC analysis was used to determine cut-off values of VR, HRD and HRV measures for dichotomization of patients into those with low- and high-risk of SD and these values were used in logistic regression analysis. The following parameters were univariate predictors of SD: obtained at reflex tests - VR <1.13 (OR 7.8, 95% CI 1.6-39.0; p=0.012), HRD <3.36 (OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.1-16.9; p=0.034); HRV parameters from 15 min ECG recordings - total frequency power <739 ms(2), VLF power <294 ms(2), LF power <197 ms(2) and LF/HF <1.5; HRV parameters from long term ECG recording - LF power <491 ms(2), LF/HF <1.4. At multivariate analysis only LF power for 15 min <197 ms(2) among HRV parameters remained independent predictor of SD (OR 24.2, 95% CI 2.4-245.5; p=0.007). Other predictors were clinical - VF during acute phase of MI (OR 94.7, 95% CI 4.2-2115.2; p=0.004) and history of MI (OR 8.4, 95% CI 1.4-48.5; p=0.017). CONCLUSION: In this population of patients without severe heart failure low LF power on 15 min resting ECG recordings on days 4-11 of MI was more powerful predictor of sudden cardiac death during subsequent 2 years than other HRV parameters including heart rate response to Valsalva maneuver and deep breath test.