Physiological perturbations for measuring heart failure

A system comprising:

• a signal generator;
• a processor configured to control the signal generator to deliver an electrical stimulation therapy to a patient's heart defined by current therapy parameter values for treating a condition of the patient;
• a perturbation module configured to induce a physiological perturbation in the patient by:
• delivering a baseline electrical stimulation to the patient's heart defined by an initial therapy delivered to the patient and comprising at least one baseline therapy parameter different than the current therapy parameters;
• after delivering the baseline electrical stimulation, inducing the physiological perturbation in the patient by delivering electrical stimulation to the patient's heart comprising a stimulation parameter having a perturbation value that deviates from a therapeutic value;
• and
• a sensing module configured to detect a change in at least one physiological parameter of the patient in response to the induced physiological perturbation, wherein the perturbation module is configured to generate a heart failure status based on the change to the at least one physiological parameter.

A system comprising:

• means for delivering an electrical stimulation therapy to a patient's heart defined by current therapy parameter values for treating a condition of the patient;
• means for inducing a physiological perturbation in a patient by:
• delivering a baseline electrical stimulation to the patient's heart defined by an initial therapy delivered to the patient and comprising at least one baseline therapy parameter different than the current therapy parameters;
• after delivering the baseline electrical stimulation, inducing the physiological perturbation in the patient by delivering electrical stimulation to the patient's heart comprising a stimulation parameter having a perturbation value that deviates from a therapeutic value;
• means for detecting a change in at least one physiological parameter of the patient in response to the induced physiological perturbation;
• and
• means for generating a heart failure status based on the change to the at least one physiological parameter.