title: Inverse correlation between the standard deviation of R-R intervals in supine position and the simplified menopausal index in women with climacteric symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Disturbance of autonomic nervous activity has been thought to play a role in the climacteric symptoms of postmenopausal women. This study was therefore designed to investigate the relationship between autonomic nervous activity and climacteric symptoms in postmenopausal Japanese women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The autonomic nervous activity of 40 Japanese women with climacteric symptoms and 40 Japanese women without climacteric symptoms was measured by power spectral analysis of heart rate variability using a standard hexagonal radar chart. The scores for climacteric symptoms were determined using the simplified menopausal index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sympathetic excitability and irritability, as well as the standard deviation of mean R-R intervals in supine position, were significantly (P < 0.01, 0.05, and 0.001, respectively) decreased in women with climacteric symptoms. There was a negative correlation between the standard deviation of mean R-R intervals in supine position and the simplified menopausal index score. The lack of control for potential confounding variables was a limitation of this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In climacteric women, the standard deviation of mean R-R intervals in supine position is negatively correlated with the simplified menopausal index score.
authors.affiliation: From the 1Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, and 2Department of Nursing of Human Broad Development, School of Health Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Japan; 3Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Junshin Gakuen University, Chikushiogaoka, Minami-ku, Fukuoka, Japan; 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Japan; and 5Department of Anesthesiology, Aichi Medical University, School of Medicine, Azakarimata, Ooazaiwasaku, Nagakutecho Aichi-gun, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yanagihara
authors.forename: Meikan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hachisuga
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Goto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016683:Supine Position / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol