Differences in heart rate variability between depressed and non-depressed elderly.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether older primary care patients with a Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) have lower heart rate variability (HRV) compared to non-depressed patients. HRV is a measure of cardiac autonomic functioning.


METHODS
A cross-sectional comparison of 136 elderly persons with MDD and 136 non-depressed controls (matched for age and gender) recruited in family practices in the Netherlands. Depression was determined according to the DSM-IV criteria using the PRIME-MD. HRV was measured with an electrocardiogram (ECG) during a 5-minute supine rest.


RESULTS
Multivariate analyses showed statistically significant decrease in HRV in MDD patients compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Older primary care patients with MDD have a reduced HRV. This may explain why depression is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality.
van der Kooy
Koen G
KG
Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
van Hout
Hein P J
HP
van Marwijk
Harm W J
HW
de Haan
Marten
M
Stehouwer
Coen D A
CD
Beekman
Aartjan T F
AT
D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index