Key result
Newly detected hypertension is linked to early autonomic dysfunction with a ~113% higher LF/HF ratio.
Why the study?
Autonomic dysfunction plays a key role in blood pressure regulation, and heart rate variability is a sensitive non-invasive marker of autonomic function, but differences in HRV between newly detected hypertensive and normotensive adults needed comparison.
Does newly diagnosed hypertension alter heart rate variability compared to normotensive adults?
Case-Control (n=52)
No
Does newly diagnosed hypertension alter heart rate variability compared to normotensive adults?
Absolute Event Rate: 1.94% vs 0.91%
p-value: p=<0.001
Newly detected hypertension is associated with early autonomic dysfunction, characterized by reduced parasympathetic activity and increased sympathetic dominance as measured by heart rate variability.
Reduced HRV in early hypertension may flag autonomic imbalance; leaves open its value for risk prediction or therapy guidance.
Background and objectives Autonomic dysfunction plays a key role in blood pressure regulation, and heart rate variability (HRV) is a sensitive non-invasive marker of autonomic function. This study aimed to compare HRV among newly detected hypertensive and normotensive adults and to examine the association of HRV parameters with blood pressure levels. Methods This hospital-based case–control study included 52 participants (26 hypertensives and 26 normotensives). Time-domain HRV parameters, standard deviation of all normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNN), and root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and frequency-domain parameters, low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and LF/HF ratio, were derived from electrocardiographic recordings. HRV parameters were compared between normotensive and hypertensive groups. Correlation with blood pressure and LF/HF was assessed using Spearman’s correlation, and logistic regression was used to examine the independent association between HRV and blood pressure parameters. Significance was set at 5% ( P < 0.05). Results Time-domain measures of HRV among hypertensives had lower SDNN [28.16 (21.75–39.50) ms 2 , P =0.020], and lower RMSSD [16.88 (11.79–25.51) ms 2 , P= 0.003]. In the frequency domain, hypertensive individuals showed significantly lower HF [102.25 (53.73–209.75), P <0.001], and the LF/HF ratio was significantly higher [1.94 (1.60–3.19), P < 0.001]. LF/HF ratio correlated positively with systolic (rₛ=0.49) and diastolic blood pressure (rₛ= 0.50), both P <0.001. Multinomial logistic regression shows that higher systolic blood pressure was significantly associated with increased odds of sympathetic dominance [Odds ratio (OR) 1.09, 95% Confidence interval (CI) (1.04-1.15), P <0.001]. Interpretation and conclusions Newly detected hypertensive adults demonstrated reduced parasympathetic activity and increased sympathetic dominance, with the LF/HF ratio showing a significant positive association with systolic and diastolic blood pressure and independently predicted hypertension.
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Gopinath et al. (2026) conducted a case-control in Hypertension (n=52). Newly diagnosed hypertension vs. Normotensive controls was evaluated on Low frequency/High frequency (LF/HF) ratio (p=<0.001). Newly detected hypertensive adults demonstrated early autonomic dysfunction characterized by a significantly higher LF/HF ratio (1.94 vs 0.91, P<0.001) compared to normotensive controls.
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