The impact of sedentarism on heart rate variability (HRV) at rest and in response to mental stress in young women

Abstract

Sedentarism is one of the main risk factors for the onset of cardiometabolic diseases. Some biomarkers, such as heart rate variability (HRV), have been largely studied and found to be involved in the genesis of the dysfunctions associated with sedentary behavior. However, comparatively few studies have focused on the female sex. The objective of this study was to analyze the hemodynamic, autonomic and quality of life parameters at rest and in response to mental stress of sedentary and physically active young women. A total of 96 women, 18–30 years of age, were divided into sedentary (SW = 48) and active (AW = 48) groups. Anthropometric, hemodynamic and quality of life parameters were evaluated and the R‐R interval was recorded to quantify the cardiac autonomic modulation at rest and in response to the Stroop Color Test. The groups were similar in age, weight, height, body mass index, fat percentage, systolic and diastolic blood pressure values and glycemia. The physical health domain of quality of life was compromised in the SW group. The SW group presented higher heart rate, lower variance of RR interval and RMSSD and higher cardiac sympathovagal balance (LF/HF) both at rest and in response to the mental stress test. We concluded that sedentary lifestyle in women induces impairment in autonomic cardiac modulation at rest and in response to physiological stress, compromising the quality of life, even before altering any cardiovascular or metabolic clinical parameters, reinforcing the potential role of HRV as early marker of cardiovascular risk in this population.

Relationship between domains of physical activity and cardiac autonomic modulation in adults: a cross-sectional study

“…Delfino et al 38 observed that those adults with high breaks in sedentary behavior at leisure and occupation showed high levels of habitual physical activity. In this sense, higher levels of sedentary behavior may result in less light-intensity physical activity, which may negatively impact cardiac autonomic modulation, once sedentary lifestyle was associated to lower RMSSD index and higher sympathovagal balance in adults 39 .…”

Effects of Proximity between Companion Dogs and Their Caregivers on Heart Rate Variability Measures in Older Adults: A Pilot Study

“…Reduced resting HRV indicates autonomic dysfunction and is a risk factor for metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease mortality [3]. HRV decreases with age [4] and with prolonged sitting [5], and both long-term [6] and short-term sedentary behaviors [7] have been associated with reduced HRV. Results from the Cardiovascular Health Study, in which serial longitudinal measures of 24-hr HRV over five years in 985 older adults were evaluated, showed greater total leisure-time activity, walking distance, and walking pace were associated with more favorable HRV [8].…”

Impact of an active lifestyle on heart rate variability and oxidative stress markers in offspring of hypertensives

“…Secondly, gender limitation may be an issue, since only men have been tested in this trial. Previous studies have shown that women during reproductive life had higher HF band and lower LF band than men 35 , and sedentary lifestyle induces impairment in cardiac autonomic modulation in women 36 . Thus, further studies are needed to determine to what extent gender affects HRV in the offspring of hypertensives.…”