title: Healthy lifestyle and heart rate variability in young adults.
abstract: We aimed to determine the association of a comprehensive healthy lifestyle with heart rate variability (HRV), a validated measure of autonomic function.
  
  
  
  This was a prospective cohort study.
  
  
  
  A population-based sample of 2079 individuals aged 25-41 years without prevalent cardiovascular disease was investigated. The standard deviation of all normal RR intervals (SDNN) during 24-hour electrocardiography was used as main HRV marker. Healthy lifestyle metrics were summed to a validated lifestyle-score ranging from 0 = most unhealthy to 7 = most healthy. One point was given for each of the following items: never smoking cigarettes; consuming a healthy diet; performing moderate (≥150 min/week) or vigorous (≥75 min/week) physical activity; body mass index (BMI)<25 kg/m(2); total cholesterol<200 mg/dl; glycated haemoglobin A1c<5.7%; and blood pressure<120 (systolic) and <80 mm Hg (diastolic).
  
  
  
  Median age of the participants (47% males) was 37 years. Mean SDNN was 153 ms and median lifestyle-score was four. A score of 0/1 or 6/7 was found in 5.2% and 11.0%, respectively. In multivariable linear regression analysis with SDNN as the outcome variable, the β-estimate (95% confidence interval (CI)) for a one-point increase of the lifestyle-score was 0.14 (0.11-0.17), p < 0.0001. This relationship was attenuated but remained significant after additional adjustment for resting heart rate (HR) (β-estimate (95% CI) 0.07 (0.07-0.10), p < 0.0001) or 24-hour HR (0.04 (0.01-0.07), p = 0.003).
  
  
  
  Few individuals adopted a healthy lifestyle in this large contemporary cohort of young adults from the general population. Adopting a healthy lifestyle has an important effect on autonomic function.
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aeschbacher
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland Cardiology Division, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bossard
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Ruperti Repilado
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Good
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland Cardiology Division, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schoen
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Matylda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zimny
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Switzerland University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicole M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Probst-Hensch
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt-Trucksäss
authors.affiliation: Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr Risch, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein Division of Laboratory Medicine, Kantonsspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Risch
authors.affiliation: Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr Risch, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria Private University, Triesen, Principality of Liechtenstein.
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Risch
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland david.conen@usb.ch.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Conen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D000070497:Healthy Lifestyle / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values
keywords: Heart rate; heart rate variability; lifestyle; population-based