Marital status and heart rate variability in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
Married individuals are at reduced risk of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Recent research indicates that impaired heart rate variability (HRV) may contribute to cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality and has also been associated with social isolation.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated associations between HRV and marital status in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).


METHODS
Eighty-eight patients who were being investigated for suspected CAD (28 women, 60 men, mean age 61.6, 60% married) were recruited from three rapid access chest pain clinics in London. Heart rate variability was measured using 24-h electrocardiograms and analyzed using frequency and time-domain measures.


RESULTS
Unmarried marital status was associated with reduced heart rate variability as indexed by both frequency and time-domain measures, independently of age, gender, beta-blocker use, depression ratings, and subsequent diagnosis of significant CAD.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that reduced heart rate variability is associated with not being married and may contribute to the reliably observed relationship between marital status and cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality.
Randall
Gemma
G
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, UK. g.randall@ucl.ac.uk
Bhattacharyya
Mimi R
MR
Steptoe
Andrew
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support