Spectral analysis of heart rate variability in bronchial asthma patients.
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Date
2012-10
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Abstract
The study was carried in the Departments of Physiology and
Medicine at S.M.S. Medical College, Jaipur. Thirty patients of bronchial
asthma, aged 20-30 years attending outpatient clinics of S.M.S. Hospital
and thirty healthy volunteers were recruited in the present study for
spectral analysis of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) using impedance peripheral
pulse in the right forearm. Two spectral components were recorded namely
high frequency (HF) component (0.15–0.4 Hz), an indicator of vagal efferent
activity and low frequency (LF) component (0.04–0.15 Hz), replicator of
composite sympatho-vagal interplay. These components were analyzed as
LF nu (Low Frequency normalized unit), HF nu (High Frequency normalized
unit) and LF/HF ratio. Low frequency component in absolute units of the
asthmatic patients differed insignificantly (P>0.05) from LF of the subjects,
whereas the same calculated as normalized units was found to be
significantly low in the patient group (P<0.01), as compared to that of the
control group. The High Frequency (in absolute units) index of HRV was
significantly high in asthmatics (P<0.01) as compared to the HF (absolute
units) of controls. Similar trend was observed in the normalized units of
HF (P<0.01). LF/HF ratio was not significantly different in patient and
control groups (P>0.05). It was concluded that a significantly raised central
vagal outflow and a concomitant significantly low central sympathetic
efferent could be appreciated in asymptomatic asthmatic patients as
compared to that in the control group. This deranged sympathovagal
interplay with parasympathetic dominance could be a plausible
pathophysiological mechanism leading to airway obstruction, the hallmark
of bronchial asthma.
Description
Keywords
bronchial asthma, heart rate variability, autonomic functions
Citation
Gupta Jitendra, Dube Amitabh, Singh Virendra, Gupta R C. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability in bronchial asthma patients. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 2012 Oct-Dec; 56(4): 330-336.