title: Familial and genetic influences on heart rate variability.
abstract: The authors tested the hypothesis of a genetic influence on heart rate variability (HRV). This genetic influence was assessed in 62, twin pairs (30 monozygotic, 32 dizygotic). From all twins, long-term electrocardiographic records were obtained, edited, and analyzed. Heart rate variability analysis was performed on the basis of parameters from time-domain, frequency-domain, and nonlinear dynamics. First, the parameter distances between the two twins of a pair and between one of the two and a third randomly selected person of another age-matched twin pair (ST1) were compared. Second, the parameter distances between the two twins and the averaged parameter distances of these two twins to all other age-matched persons (ST2) were compared. Finally, the averaged differences in parameter values between monozygotic and dizygotic age-matched twin pairs were compared. For statistical analysis, the nonparametric Wilcoxon's matched-pair signed rank test and parametric t-test for paired samples were used. Twin pairs show a significant lower difference in parameter values than other randomly selected and age-matched couples (P < .001 in ST1 and ST2). This reflects a considerable familial influence. Most parameters of the time-domain, none of the frequency-domain, and half of the nonlinear dynamics show significant differences between twin pairs and nontwin pairs. As a result of the comparison between monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs, a significant lower parameter difference in the monozygotic pairs (P < .05) is found. These results suggest that there is a genetic component in heart rate generation and HRV, in addition to family environmental influences. Analysis of HRV might become a useful method in phenotyping severe genetic changes in cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: MDC Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin, Franz-Volhard-Klinik, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Voss
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Busjahn
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wessel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schurath
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Faulhaber
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Luft
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dietz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004452:Echocardiography; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011897:Random Allocation; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D004247:DNA