Heart rate variability in healthy subjects is related to age and gender

Abstract

The effects of age and gender on heart rate variability as measured by spectral and time domain analysis of 24 h ECG recordings were evaluated in 101 healthy subjects, 49 men and 52 women (20-69 years of age). In the frequency domain, total power, very low-frequency power, low-frequency power and high-frequency power were negatively correlated to age (P < 0.001 for all variables). Total power decreased by 30% between 20-29 and 60-69 years of age. In the time domain, SDNN-index, the mean of the standard deviations of all normal R-R intervals for all 5 min segments of a 24 h ECG recording, was negatively correlated to age (P < 0.001). Total power, very low-frequency power, low-frequency power and the low-frequency/high-frequency ratio were lower in women (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.01), although the absolute differences were much smaller than for age. There was a pronounced circadian variation; at night total power increased in all age groups (P < 0.01). The results show that age, and to a lesser degree gender, are important determinants of heart rate variability in healthy subjects. Heart rate variability is a valuable tool for risk stratification in cardiovascular disease, but the physiological effects of ageing, with diminishing heart rate variability in older age groups, must also be taken into account.

The potent role of increased sympathetic tone in pathogenesis of essential hypertension with neurovascular compression

“…This adjustment seems justified because it is well known that heart rate variability in healthy subjects is related to age. 26 In the present study, the lowfrequency A-PSD was significantly higher in patients with essential hypertension with neurovascular compression compared with patients with essential hypertension without neurovascular compression, normotensive subjects and patients with secondary hypertension. This finding suggests that neurovascular compression may increase blood pressure via an increase in sympathetic tone.…”

Age-related changes in cardiovascular system, autonomic functions, and levels of BDNF of healthy active males: role of yogic practice

“…Decreased values of HF, TP, SDNN, RMSSD, mean RR, and pNN50 and increased values of LF and LF/HF was noted with advancement of age. Jensen-Ustad et al (1997) observed that progression of age lowered the values of heart rate variability and shifted the individual towards sympathodominance. TP, the principal index of general sympathovagal tone, exhibited a significant negative correlation with age.…”

“…The above-mentioned theories can explain physiological changes, which occurs with advancement of age. Cardiovascular aging in terms of decline in maximum heart rate, oxygen extraction, aerobic capacity, arterial stiffening, vasoconstriction, elevated systolic blood pressure, thickening of the left ventricle wall, reduced diastolic filling rate, impaired cardiac reserve, alterations in heart rate rhythm, and prolonged cardiac action potential were described earlier by different researcher (Landahl et al 1986;Reardon and Malik 1996;Jensen-Ustad et al 1997). Aging was found to be directly associated with structural and functional changes in autonomic nervous system (ANS).…”

“…Recording from sympathetic nerves of skeletal muscle also revealed significant changes. Researchers suggested that aging might enhance basal norepinephrine level and depress heart rate variability (Shimazu et al 2005;Reardon and Malik 1996;Jensen-Ustad et al 1997). Brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), a potent marker of adult neurogenesis and cognitive performance, declines with aging (Erickson et al 2010).…”

Redução da variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca em indivíduos de meia-idade e o efeito do treinamento de força

“…Studies have shown that the process of physiological aging leads to HRV reduction 1,[3][4][5] , related to a decrease of the vagal actuation over the sinusal node 1,3 , which is, in turn, associated to the increase on morbidity and mortality originated from different causes, in addition to coronary arterial disease, in both middle-aged and elderly individuals 5 . In this context, some works have analyzed the effects of sedentary life-style changes, through implementation of physical exercise programs in the attempt to minimize or partially reverse the HRV decrease that occurs with aging [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] .…”