PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Eva Zupanic
AU  - Ina Zivanovic
AU  - Jurij Matija Kalisnik
AU  - Viktor Avbelj
AU  - Mitja Lainscak
TI  - The effect of 4-week rehabilitation on heart rate variability and QTc interval in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
DP  - 2014 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P3038
VI  - 44
IP  - Suppl 58
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P3038.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P3038.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2014 Sep 01; 44
AB  - Introduction. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) negatively affects the autonomic nervous system and increases risks of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. While comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation (CIR) has an established role in COPD management, there are only few studies investigating effects on heart rate variability (HRV) and QTc interval.Aims. We aimed to compare HRV and QTc interval in patients with COPD and healthy individuals, and to assess changes after CIR.Methods. 20-minute electrocardiograms were used to compare HRV parameters (heart rate, NN, SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50, TP, LF, HF, LF, LF/HF) and QTc (1) between 31 patients with COPD and 31 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals and (2) between 18 patients with COPD receiving CIR and 13 age- and sex-matched patients comprising COPD control group. Electrocardiogram, St. George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ), 6-min walk test (6MWT), and incremental shuttle walking test (ISWT) were performed at baseline and after 4 weeks of CIR.Results. Compared to healthy individuals, patients with COPD had higher heart rate (p < 0.05), reduced NN, SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50, HF, LF, and TP (all p < 0.05) but similar QTc (p = 0.185). During CIR, SDNN and TP (p < 0.05 for both) increased, as did results for 6MWT, ISWT, and SGRQ (all p < 0.05). No significant change in QTc was observed. Change in SDNN correlated with a clinically relevant difference in SGRQ (r = 0.538, p = 0.021).Conclusions. Patients with COPD have reduced HRV in comparison with healthy controls. CIR improved HRV parameters which was associated with patient perception of COPD.