Influence of basic heart rate and sex on heart rate turbulence in healthy subjects.
Acceleration and deceleration of the heart rate after the occurrence of a ventricular premature complex is characterized as heart rate turbulence (HRT). Two parameters quantify heart rate turbulence: onset and slope. The physiological properties have not been clarified in a large cohort of persons yet. This study evaluated properties of HRT, and focused on the influence of basic heart rate and sex on HRT. Using a special protocol, 95 persons were studied prospectively. HRT and its physiological properties were determined in 95 persons using Holter ECGs. The authors found 24% with a turbulence onset 0% and 5% with a turbulence slope <2.5 ms/RRI. Mean heart rate during Holter differed significantly between women and men (745 vs 817 ms, P < 0.0001). A linear, weighted regression model revealed that an increased heart rate before a ventricular premature complex is associated with a decreased turbulence onset (P < 0.0001). Turbulence slope was attenuated by basic heart rate only in men (P = 0.0022). On the contrary, the study detected no influence of the basic heart rate on turbulence slope in women (P = 0.0015 for the comparison between women and men). Basic heart rate and sex show an influence on HRT and should be considered when using HRT for noninvasive risk stratification.
Schwab
Jörg O
JO
Department of Medicine-Cardiology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. joerg.schwab@ukb.uni-bonn.de
Eichner
Gerrit
G
Veit
Gudrun
G
Schmitt
Heiko
H
Lewalter
Thorsten
T
Lüderitz
Berndt
B
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000465:Algorithms; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*