The Relationship of Framingham Risk Score and Heart Rate Variability in Non-obese Males

Lee, Seung Jun; Suh, Young Sung; Kim, Dae Hyun

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that cardiovascular factors such as hypertension, smoking, diabetes and obesity are related to decrease in heart rate variability (HRV). This study purposed to examinate the association of HRV with Framingham risk score in non-obese males and the affecting factors of HRV.
METHODS
The study was carried out in 323 males who visited a health care center from June to August, 2004, None had previous cardiovascular and cerebral diseases, diabetes, or obesity (BMI> or =25 kg/m(2)). The subjects were divided into three groups by Framingham risk score and we compared the means of HRV parameters including the Mean Heart Rate (MHR), Standard Deviation of NN interval (SDNN), the Square Root of the Mean Squared Differences of successive NN intervals (RMSSD), Total Power (TP), Very Low Frequency (VLF), Low Frequency (LF), High Frequency (HF), and LF/HF ratio in these three groups.
RESULTS
There were significant differences among the groups by age. Among HRV parameters, SDNN (P<0.001), RMSSD (P=0.001), TP (P=0.008), LF (P=0.024), and HF (P=0.003) are inversely associated with the risk score group. Multiple regression analysis revealed age, systolic blood pressure and C-reactive protein as independent explanatory variables of HRV.
CONCLUSION
SDNN, RMSSD, TP, LF and HF were decreased in the higher risk group, we can suggest that autonomic function is impaired as the cardiovascular risk increases.