Effect of posture on heart rate variability spectral measures in children and young adults with heart disease.
BACKGROUND
Reduction of heart rate variability as a consequence of heart disease and postural change has been well documented. However, the data on the effect of postural change in pediatric patients are incomplete and the effect is not fully understood. The aim of the study was to investigate effect of postural change on heart rate variability in relation to the extent of severity of heart disease.


METHODS
The dependence of heart rate variability on posture in 41 children and young adults (8-20 years) with heart disease has been investigated and compared with control. Short-term electrocardiograms (ECGs) were assessed in supine rest and active standing, and spectral measures of heart rate variability were determined.


RESULTS
Two types of response to the change of supine to standing posture were determined in both healthy and diseased subjects. In majority of subjects, the increased heart rate induced by standing was accompanied by a decrease in high-frequency power. However, in about 30% of all subjects, increased heart rate during standing was accompanied by an increased high-frequency power. Independently of posture and disease, high-frequency and low-frequency power were positively correlated. In subjects characterized by a reduction of heart rate variability in standing, the high-frequency power in both postures is reduced in diseased subjects compared to control.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that in this age range, the response to posture is not unique because of the difference in high-frequency power, which implies a variety of vagal modulations of heart rate.
Vuksanovic
Vesna
V
Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Visegradska 26/2, Belgrade, Serbia nad Montenegro. vvesna@eunet.yu
Gal
Vera
V
Kalanj
Jasna
J
Simeunovic
Slavko
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index