Key result
The combination of extreme chronic stress and depressive symptoms leads to a blunted heart rate circadian rhythm and lower basal heart rate, whereas depressive symptoms alone are associated with blunted heart rate reactivity to acute stress.
Why the study?
It was unclear whether chronic stress, intrinsic depression mechanisms, or their combination cause alterations in heart rate and heart rate variability.
Does the combination of chronic stress and depressive symptoms affect heart rate circadian rhythm and stress reactivity in a healthy working population?
Cross-Sectional (n=516)
Does the combination of chronic stress and depressive symptoms affect heart rate circadian rhythm and stress reactivity in a healthy working population?
Effect estimate: b = -0.084
p-value: p=0.016
The combination of chronic stress and depressive symptoms, rather than stress alone, is associated with a blunted heart rate circadian rhythm and altered stress reactivity.
Combination of chronic stress and depressive symptoms was associated with blunted HR circadian rhythm in workers; leaves open prospective cardiovascular effects.
Background: Chronic stress and depressive symptoms have both been linked to increased heart rate (HR) and reduced HR variability. However, up to date, it is not clear whether chronic stress, the mechanisms intrinsic to depression or a combination of both cause these alterations. Subclinical cases may help to answer these questions. In a healthy working population, we aimed to investigate whether the effect of chronic stress on HR circadian rhythm depends on the presence of depressive symptoms and whether chronic stress and depressive symptoms have differential effects on HR reactivity to an acute stressor. Methods: = 194) of these participants completed a stress task on a mobile device. Participants were grouped according to their scores for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). We explored the resulting groups for differences in HR circadian rhythm and stress reactivity using linear mixed effect models. Additionally, we explored the effect of stress and depressive symptoms on night-time HR variability [root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD)]. Results: High and extreme stress alone did not alter HR circadian rhythm, apart from a limited increase in basal HR. Yet, if depressive symptoms were present, extreme chronic stress levels did lead to a blunted circadian rhythm and a lower basal HR. Furthermore, blunted stress reactivity was associated with depressive symptoms, but not chronic stress. Night-time RMSSD data was not influenced by chronic stress, depressive symptoms or their interaction. Conclusion: The combination of stress and depressive symptoms, but not chronic stress by itself leads to a blunted HR circadian rhythm. Furthermore, blunted HR reactivity is associated with depressive symptoms and not chronic stress.
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Lutin et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy working population (n=516). Chronic stress and depressive symptoms vs. Normative stress and low depressive symptoms was evaluated on Heart rate circadian rhythm (basal HR in extreme stress with depressive symptoms) (b = -0.084, p=0.016). The combination of extreme chronic stress and depressive symptoms leads to a blunted heart rate circadian rhythm and lower basal heart rate, whereas depressive symptoms alone are associated with blunted heart rate reactivity to acute stress.
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