Are higher resting heart rate and lower heart rate variability associated with functional decline in older adults?
Cardiac autonomic function, as measured by resting heart rate and heart rate variability, is an independent predictor of functional decline in older adults.
Higher resting heart rate and lower heart rate variability were associated with worse functional status and with higher risk of future functional decline in older adults, independent of cardiovascular disease. This study provides insight into the role of cardiac autonomic function in the development of functional decline.
Ogliari et al. (Mon,) studied this question.