Key result
Normotensive obesity was associated with significantly reduced parasympathetic tone, including lower RMSSD (28.75 vs 41.55 ms), and increased sympathetic activity compared to normal-weight controls.
Why the study?
Does obesity alter heart rate variability and autonomic modulation in normotensive adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=59)
No
Does obesity alter heart rate variability and autonomic modulation in normotensive adults?
Absolute Event Rate: 28.75% vs 41.55%
p-value: p=0.018
Normotensive obese adults exhibit increased sympathetic activity and reduced parasympathetic tone, suggesting poor autonomic cardiac rhythm control even before the onset of clinical hypertension.
Hypothesis-generating for early autonomic imbalance in normotensive obesity; prospective studies needed to clarify cardiovascular risk.
Background: Obese people have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease, though unknown mechanism, supposed to be due to autonomic dysfunction which is still in controversy. This study aimed to assess and compare heart rate variability (HRV) between normotensive obese and adults.Methods: The study was conducted on 30 normotensive obese adults (mean age 32.07±7.25 years) with BMI>30 and 29 age- and sex-matched normal weight controls (mean age 30.48±8.01 years) with BMI: 18-24 Kg/m2. Short-term HRV variables were assessed using standard protocol. The data were compared between the groups using Mann Whitney ‘U’ test.Results: In obese group, there was significant increase in the mean heart rate [79.17±8.80 Vs 71.48±8.41 beats/min, p=0.001], systolic blood pressure [121.20±9.89 Vs 113.24±11.07, mmHg, p=0.004] and diastolic blood pressure [84.97±7.87 Vs 74.83±10.31 mmHg, p=0.000]. The HRV parasympathetic indicators were less [RMSSD {28.75(16.72-38.35) Vs 41.55(30.6-56.75) ms, p=0.018}, NN50 {15.5(2-39) Vs 83.5(32.75-116.25), p=0.010}], and sympathetic indicator LF/HF ratio [1.2(0.65-2.20) Vs 0.79(0.5-1.02), p=0.004] was more in obese group.Conclusions: Obese persons have increased sympathetic activity with a reduction in parasympathetic (vagal) tone indicating poor autonomic cardiac rhythm control. Moreover, the altered autonomic activity could be the reason for increased mean heart rate and blood pressures in normotensive obese persons.
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Yadav et al. (2016) conducted a cross-sectional in Normotensive obesity (n=59). Obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2) vs. Normal weight (BMI 18-24 kg/m2) was evaluated on Root mean square of differences of successive RR intervals (RMSSD) (p=0.018). Normotensive obesity was associated with significantly reduced parasympathetic tone, including lower RMSSD (28.75 vs 41.55 ms), and increased sympathetic activity compared to normal-weight controls.
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