Key result
Women with primary vascular dysregulation and sleep onset difficulties exhibited significantly lower high-frequency heart rate variability and an elevated LF/HF ratio during 40 hours of prolonged wakefulness compared to controls.
Why the study?
Does a functional disorder of vascular regulation affect heart-rate variability and autonomic balance during 40-hour prolonged wakefulness in women?
Observational (n=18)
No
Does a functional disorder of vascular regulation affect heart-rate variability and autonomic balance during 40-hour prolonged wakefulness in women?
p-value: p=<0.05
Women with functional vascular regulation disorders exhibit autonomic imbalance and altered sympathovagal responses to fatigue during prolonged wakefulness.
Heart-rate variability patterns of 18 women during a 40-h constant routine of prolonged wakefulness under controlled laboratory conditions were analyzed. The authors tested the circadian timing of the autonomic nervous system and the relationship between the sympathetic and vagal branches in women with both a functional disorder of vascular regulation (main symptom: cold hands and feet) and prolonged sleep onset and controls without these symptoms. Spectral analysis of R-R intervals during paced breathing episodes revealed significantly lower power values in the high-frequency band (HF; 0.15-0.4 Hz) but not in the low-frequency band (LF; 0.04-0.15 Hz), leading to a significantly elevated LF/HF ratio in the former group. A significant circadian rhythm in LF power and heart rate occurred in both groups, and a significant correlation was found between sleepiness and sympathovagal balance (r = .53, p < .05). These findings indicate not only an autonomic imbalance in the first group compared with controls, but also two strategies of the autonomic nervous system to fight against fatigue in women. One implies circadian control and the other homeostatic control, and both are reflected by the LF/HF ratio.
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Anders et al. (2010) conducted an observational in Primary vascular dysregulation and difficulties initiating sleep (n=18). 40-hour prolonged wakefulness vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on High-frequency (HF) power and LF/HF ratio (p=<0.05). Women with primary vascular dysregulation and sleep onset difficulties exhibited significantly lower high-frequency heart rate variability and an elevated LF/HF ratio during 40 hours of prolonged wakefulness compared to controls.
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