Influence of Balloon Angioplasty on Heart Rate Variability in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

We assessed the influence of elective balloon angioplasty on heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with coronary artery disease. In 62 patients (41 men and 21 women, aged 33 to 69), two 6‐minute electrocardiographic recordings were performed 2 hours apart. Patients were divided into three groups: group A (26 patients) underwent balloon angioplasty; group B (14 patients) underwent coronary angiography alone, and group C (22 patients) served as controls. There was a statistically significant decrease in time and frequency domain measurements in group A patients after successful balloon angioplasty (P < 0.05). The logarithm of the high frequency decreased in group B patients after coronary angiography alone (P < 0.05). HRV did not change in group C. There was no correlation with lesion location. We conclude that in patients with coronary arterial disease, successful balloon angioplasty is associated with an immediate decrease in HRV in time and frequency domains regardless of the artery involved. Coronary angiography alone is associated with an early decrease in the logarithm of the high frequency domain measurement of HRV. These changes may be due to procedure‐related factors, patient characteristics, and microvascular derangements. A delayed improvement in HRV after balloon angioplasty is not addressed by the present study and warrants further evaluation.