Abstract
It is known that oxidative stress in lung disease is associated with a predominance of the sympathetic nervous system. This fact indicates a worse autonomic modulation, which is directly linked to heart rate variability (HRV). We aimed to investigate whether there is correlation between HRV and pulmonary function (PF) in healthy adults. One hundred and nineteen subjects aged 20-80 years were enrolled and performed spirometry. We assessed anthropometrics, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol, tobacco history, and time and frequency domains of short-term HRV analysis (10-min at rest). Physical activity in daily life was evaluated by 7 days of triaxial accelerometry. Significant (p < 0,05) correlations between HRV and PF were found. The best correlations were as follows: low frequency with FEV1 (r = 0,38) and FVC (r = 0,41) and long-term standard deviation of Poincaré plot (SD2) with FEV1 (r = 0,39) and FVC (r = 0,42). After multiple regressions analysis adjusted for major confounding variables, the SD2 were selected as determinant of FEV1 (R2 = 0,12) and FVC (R2 = 0,18). We may conclude that there is a moderate but determinant association between HRV and pulmonary function. Whether strategies to enhance the autonomic modulation could slow the decline in lung function should be investigated.
- © 2014 ERS