Associations of psychosocial factors with heart rate and its short-term variability: multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association of psychosocial factors with heart rate (HR) and its variability across multiple ethnic groups and by gender. Increased HR and reduced HR variability are markers of increased cardiovascular risk.


METHODS
Between 2000 and 2002, 6814 men and women (2624 Whites, 1895 African-Americans, 1492 Hispanics, and 803 Chinese) aged 45 to 84 years took part in the first examination of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Associations of psychosocial variables with mean values of HR and its short-term variability were tested, using multivariate regression models.


RESULTS
In age, gender, race/ethnicity, and risk factor-adjusted analyses, a depressive symptom score was positively associated with HR and inversely associated with HR variability (standard deviation of normal-to-normal (N-N) interbeat intervals (SDNN) and the root mean square of successive differences in N-N intervals (RMSSD)). The adjusted mean differences per 1-SD (8 points) increment of depression score for HR, RMSSD, and SDNN were 0.5 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.2-0.7), -0.8 (95% CI, -1.5 to -0.2), and -0.7 (95% CI, -1.1 to -0.2). The social support score was inversely associated with HR, but nonsignificantly associated with RMSSD and SDNN. There was no association of trait anger or trait anxiety with HR, RMSSD, or SDNN. Associations were generally consistent in men and women.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings generally support the hypothesis that depression may be associated with increased HR and reduced HR variability, which increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Ohira
Tetsuya
T
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454-1015, USA.
Diez Roux
Ana V
AV
Prineas
Ronald J
RJ
Kizilbash
Mohammad A
MA
Carnethon
Mercedes R
MR
Folsom
Aaron R
AR
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology