Tachycardia in adults with cystic fibrosis is associated with normal autonomic function

Abstract

CF patients have normal autonomic function.

Heart Rate Variability at rest and after the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in children with cystic fibrosis

“…No differences were observed using controlled breathing. In contrast to the findings of Szollosi et al 3 , in the present study, children with CF demonstrated significantly higher LF values at rest compared to healthy individuals. This higher sympathetic drive can also be identified by the higher LF/HF ratio in CFG at baseline.…”

“…The plausible explanation of these results may be due to alterations of respiratory pattern 19 , higher levels of catecholamine 20 or higher work of breathing 21 ; however, these mechanisms remain speculative at this time. Szollosi et al 3 also found a negative correlation between FEV 1 % and HF (ms 2 ) during spontaneous (r: -0.54) and controlled (r: -0.57) breathing and a positive correlation between FEV 1 % and LF/HF ratio (r: 0.69) demonstrating a higher parasympathetic activation in patients presenting more obstruction to airflow. In the present study, we did not find correlations between HRV parameters and FEV 1 %; however, the mean FEV 1 % was slightly higher in our population compared to Szollosi et al 3 .…”

“…Szollosi et al 3 investigated 17 young adults (28.8±9.1 years) with CF and compared them with 17 healthy subjects. HRV was evaluated with volunteers in the supine position breathing spontaneously for 15 minutes followed by assessment during controlled breathing at 15 breaths per minute.…”

“…Changes in heart rate variability (HRV) patterns are a sensitive and early indicator of damage to the cardiac system 2 . In adult CF sufferers, a significant relationship between lung disease severity (FEV 1%pred ) and elevated HF power (ms 2 ) or lower LF/ HF ratio was reported 3 . This observation suggests that the progression of the disease is associated to decreased sympathetic predominance of autonomic heart control.…”

Cystic Fibrosis and the Nervous System

“…[91][92][93] Alterations in smooth muscle contractile responses to cholinergic agonists have also been described, 45,94 as has abnormal heart rate variability. 79,80 Altered autonomic function could contribute to manifestations of CF, including cough, GI motility, and mucus secretion, topics explored in greater detail further on.…”