The Development of Heart Rate Variability in Childhood-Insights into the Biology of Heart Rate Regulation

Abstract

Furthermore, the increase of HRV during childhood demonstrated the same uniform pattern of the power spectra without an additional increase in the HF to LF ratio after age three years (Figure 2). Contrary to most previous studies, Herzig D, et al. found no increase of standard HRV parameters with age in children; however, when adjusted for heart rate, there was a significant decrease of HRV parameters with increasing age [3]. Plaza-Florido A, et al. also proposed HRV correction for heart rate and the parameters became independent on both sex and heart rate, and only poorly dependent on age [4].We currently work on a concept concerning heart rate regulation in children with anorexia nervosa, proposing that HCN4 regulation (hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channel) may explain the significant changes in heart rate and HRV during refeeding. This theory based on investigations into heart rate regulation on the receptor, ion current, and molecular level in the sinus node predict further regulatory systems [5] in addition to the acetylcholine and norepinephrine receptors representing the dual