Key result
Psychological stress significantly increased the LF/HF ratio (3.01 vs 1.39) and morning cortisol levels compared to healthy controls, indicating autonomic and neuroendocrine disturbances.
Why the study?
Does psychological stress alter heart rate variability and morning cortisol levels in healthy subjects?
Cross-Sectional (n=80)
No
Does psychological stress alter heart rate variability and morning cortisol levels in healthy subjects?
Absolute Event Rate: 3.01% vs 1.39%
p-value: p=<0.001
Psychological stress is associated with increased morning cortisol levels and autonomic disturbances characterized by sympathetic dominance and parasympathetic withdrawal.
Supports stress-autonomic links in healthy adults; leaves open causality and need for prospective trials.
Introduction: Psychological stress activate two axes: Hypothalamic- Pituitary-Adrenal axis and Sympathoadrenal axis leading to production of cortisol and catecholamines.Autonomic disturbances in the body can be evaluated by estimating heart rate variability.Study Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Islamic International Medical College. Period:June 2014 to December 2014. Materials and Methods: Subjects were labeled as stress andcontrol on basis of DASS questionnaire proforma. Morning Cortisol level of all the subjectswas measured by quantitative ELISA method. Heart rate variability recording of all the subjectswas done. Results: Low frequency in absolute and normalized unit and low to high frequencyratio was significantly higher in stressed group, compared to control (p≤ .05, p ≤ .001, pp ≤.001 respectively). High frequency in normalized was significantly lower in stressed subjects,compared to control (p ≤ .001). Cortisol level was significantly higher in the stressed group incomparison with control (p ≤ .05). Conclusion: Stress can lead to increase morning cortisollevel and can cause autonomic disturbances which can be evaluated by measuring heart ratevariability.
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Jawwad et al. (2017) conducted a cross-sectional in Psychological stress (n=80). Psychological stress vs. Non-stressed controls was evaluated on Low frequency to high frequency (LF/HF) ratio (p=<0.001). Psychological stress significantly increased the LF/HF ratio (3.01 vs 1.39) and morning cortisol levels compared to healthy controls, indicating autonomic and neuroendocrine disturbances.
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