title: Twenty-four-hour heart rate variability to assess autonomic function in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease patients by means of a 24-h heart rate variability (HRV) method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease were compared with 13 age-matched healthy persons (control group). The 13 patients had a mean age of 70.5 years, and mean disease duration of 10.9 years. The autonomic function was evaluated by HRV analysis using a continuous 24-h ECG. The parameters of SDNN (standard deviation of the normal-to-normal intervals between adjacent QRS complexes), of LF (power in low frequency) and of HF (power in high frequency) were studied during the following 3 periods: 24 h, night and day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data show a statistically significant difference between groups for SDNN and LF in all the periods, while for HF parameters the difference is statistically significant only in the night period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of the 24-h HRV method can provide more accurate and reproducible data than other conventional cardiovascular tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, University of La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mastrocola
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vanacore
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giovani
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Locuratolo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alessandri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baratta
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tubani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meco
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013997:Time Factors