title: Analysis of heart rate variability in polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the modulation of heart rate in a group of volunteers with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to that of a group of healthy ovulatory women on the basis of R-R interval variability and analyze the relationships between heart rate variability (HRV) and other cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, HRV and anthropometric, biochemical and hormonal parameters were measured in 23 women with PCOS and 23 age-matched controls. Mean outcomes measures: HRV indexes in the time (SDNN and rMSSD) and frequency domain (low frequency-LF and high frequency-HF). Differences between groups and correlation analysis were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intergroup analysis showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between groups, with lower SDNN, rMSSD, LF and HF indexes in PCOS women when compared to the control group. There was significant negative correlation between BMI and SDNN, LF and HF, indicating a decrease in the autonomic modulation of heart rate with increasing weight. A negative correlation was also found between the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level and the rMSSD index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that PCOS is associated with alterations in the autonomic modulation of heart rate, possibly due to the influence of weight gain.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joceline Cássia Ferezini
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Sá
authors.forename: Eduardo Caldas
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Roberta Silva
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Zuttin
authors.forename: Eliane Pereira
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Telma Maria Araújo Moura
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.forename: George Dantas
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: De Azevedo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D015588:Observer Variation; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin