A PPG system for determining cardiac stability of a patient includes a PPG sensor configured to be secured to an anatomical portion of the patient, wherein the PPG sensor is configured to sense a physiological characteristic of the patient. The PPG system includes a monitor operatively connected to the PPG sensor. The monitor receives a PPG signal from the PPG sensor. The monitor includes a cardiac stability analysis module configured to determine an amplitude variance of the PPG signal over a predetermined time period and configured to determine a pulse period variance of the PPG signal over the time period. The cardiac stability analysis module is configured to determine cardiac stability as a function of the amplitude variance and the pulse period variance.
