title: Heart rate, heart rate variability and inflammatory biomarkers among young and healthy adults.
abstract: Heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and inflammation are all associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess potential interrelationships between these parameters in a young and healthy population.
  
  
  
  Healthy individuals aged 25-41 years were included in a prospective population-based study. All participants underwent 24-h electrocardiography using a validated device. The standard deviation of all normal RR intervals (SDNN) was pre-defined as the main HRV outcome variable. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), total leukocyte (LC) count and LC subtypes were obtained from venous blood samples.
  
  
  
  A total of 2064 participants (47% men, 37 years) were included in this analysis. In multivariable linear regression analyses using SDNN as the outcome variable, β-coefficients (95% confidence intervals) per 1 standard deviation (SD) increase on the log-scale were -0.11 (-0.16; -0.07), p < .0001 for hs-CRP, -0.13 (-0.17; -0.09), p < .0001 for total LC count, -0.12 (-0.16; -0.08), p < .0001 for neutrophils, -0.04 (-0.09; 0.00), p = .05 for lymphocytes and -0.08 (-0.09; -0.02), p = .005 for monocytes. There were positive relationships between resting and ambulatory HR and inflammatory biomarkers, except for lymphocytes.
  
  
  
  In this large cohort of young and healthy adults, inflammatory parameters were strongly associated with increased HR and decreased HRV, suggesting an important interaction between inflammatory pathways and the autonomic nervous system. Key message Inflammatory biomarkers, such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and leukocyte cell count with its subtypes were inversely associated with HRV and positively associated with HR. Our findings suggest important interrelationships between inflammatory pathways and the ANS.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine , University Hospital Basel , Basel , Switzerland.|b Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (CRIB), University Hospital Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aeschbacher
authors.affiliation: b Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (CRIB), University Hospital Basel , Basel , Switzerland.|c Cardiology Division, University Hospital Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schoen
authors.affiliation: a Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine , University Hospital Basel , Basel , Switzerland.|b Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (CRIB), University Hospital Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dörig
authors.affiliation: a Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine , University Hospital Basel , Basel , Switzerland.|b Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (CRIB), University Hospital Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rahel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kreuzmann
authors.affiliation: b Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (CRIB), University Hospital Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neuhauser
authors.affiliation: d Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division Sports and Exercise Medicine , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt-Trucksäss
authors.affiliation: e Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute , Basel , Switzerland.|f Epidemiology and Public Health, University Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicole M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Probst-Hensch
authors.affiliation: g Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr Risch, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein.|h Division of Laboratory Medicine , Kantonsspital Graubünden , Chur , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Risch
authors.affiliation: g Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr Risch, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein.|i Division of Clinical Biochemistry , Medical University , Innsbruck , Austria.|j Private University , Triesen , Principality of Liechtenstein.
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Risch
authors.affiliation: a Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine , University Hospital Basel , Basel , Switzerland.|b Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (CRIB), University Hospital Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Conen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Heart rate variability; heart rate; high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; inflammation; leukocytes