title: Heart rate recovery index in patients with psoriasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In clinical practice, autonomic functions are indirectly investigated with heart rate recovery (HRR) index measurements. Our aim was to evaluate the HRR index in patients with psoriasis, which is a systemic inflammatory disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included 39 psoriasis patients (18 female, mean age 48±15 years) and 40 control group (18 female, mean age 44±9 years) healthy individuals. The severity of psoriasis was calculated using the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI). None of the study patients had a PASI score >50. All of the participants underwent treadmill exercise testing using the Bruce protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to basic clinical and demographic characteristics, both groups were similar with regard to age, body mass index, and fasting glucose and cholesterol levels. No significant differences were observed in the systolic or diastolic blood pressures or resting heart rates between the two groups. All patients and control-group participants had sinus rhythm and normal 12-lead ECG results at rest. All subjects completed the exercise tests to exhaustion without rhythm abnormalities, ischemic changes, or other complications. The maximal heart rate and metabolic equivalents achieved during the exercise stress test (EST) were similar in the psoriasis and control group (163±16 vs. 170±16, p=0.07; 9.8±0.9 vs. 10.1±1.0, p=0.24, respectively). The 1st, 3rd, and 5th minute HRR indices of patients with psoriasis were similar to those of the control group (HRR1: 30±12, 32±18, p=0.71; HRR3: 57±13, 64±17, p=0.10; HRR5: 64±15, 68±16, p=0.46, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HRR index, which is calculated by an EST and associated with autonomic nervous system function, is not effected in mild to moderate psoriasis patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Düzce University Faculty of Medicine, Düzce, Turkey. drserkanbulur@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bulur
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Turan
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aslantaş
authors.forename: Zehra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gürlevik
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozşahin
authors.forename: Handan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ankaralı
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ekinözü
authors.forename: Sabri Onur
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Cağlar
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozhan
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis