Key result
Postural changes significantly reduce heart rate variability, with greater reductions observed in males than females.
Why the study?
Heart rate variability, heart rate, and blood pressure responses to postural changes in healthy subjects require characterization to understand cardiovascular dynamics.
How do postural changes affect heart rate variability, heart rate, and blood pressure in healthy subjects, and do these responses differ by sex?
Cross-Sectional (n=65)
How do postural changes affect heart rate variability, heart rate, and blood pressure in healthy subjects, and do these responses differ by sex?
In healthy young subjects, postural changes elicit baroreceptor-mediated reductions in heart rate variability and increases in heart rate to maintain blood pressure, with notable sex differences in resting autonomic tone and blood pressure.
PURPOSE: To examine heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP) in healthy subjects during the postural changes. METHODS: Sixty-five subjects (27 males, 38 females) completed the protocol. HRV, HR, and BP were measured in supine (2 recordings), seated (2 recordings), and standing (1 recording) positions. HRV and HR were collected using a Polar H-10 strap, which exported values to the Elite HRV app. BP was taken with an automatic Omron IntelliSense cuff. Bivariate and point-biserial correlations assessed relationships between variables. Mixed ANOVA with repeated measures analyzed changes in HRV, HR, and BP across all time points with sex as a between-subjects factor. All analyses were conducted on SPSS version 29.0. RESULTS: Subjects were 24.0 ± 8.1 years of age with a height of 65.5 ± 3.9 inches and BMI of 26.2 ± 4.9 kg/m 2 . Negative point-biserial correlations were significant between sex and systolic BP (SBP) during the first ( *r* *pb* = -0.435, *p* < 0.001) and second ( *r* *pb* = -0.448, *p* < 0.001) recordings in the supine position. Additional associations with SBP were found during supine posture with weight in the first ( *r* = 0.325, *p* = 0.009) and second ( *r* = 0.339, *p* = 0.006) reading, and height in the first ( *r* = 0.344, *p* = 0.005) and second ( *r* = 0.329, *p* = 0.008) reading. In the second seated test, SBP was negatively correlated with sex ( *r* *pb* = -0.448, *p* < 0.001). In the standing measurement, SPB was also negatively associated with sex ( *r* *pb* = -0.435, *p* < 0.001). SBP differed between postures ( *p* = 0.017), and HR was different across posture ( *p* < 0.001) and sex ( *p* = 0.022). Females (77.4 bpm [95% CI 74.3, 80.6]) had a higher HR than males (71.8 bpm [95% CI 68.1, 75.5]; *p* = 0.009). HRV was similar between sexes ( *p* = 0.339) while HRV decreased across positional changes ( *p* < 0.001). Males experienced a larger reduction in HRV across postures ( *p* = 0.004) and had higher SBP (120.8 mmHg [95% CI 116.3, 125.3]) than females (109.3 mmHg [95% CI 105.5, 113.1]; *p* < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Baroreceptor-mediated reductions in HRV accompany increases in HR to defend against reductions in BP during postural changes. Sex differences were found in resting HR, HRV, and SBP.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Acosta et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy (n=65). Postural changes vs. Supine baseline position was evaluated on Change in heart rate variability (HRV) across positional changes (p=<0.001). Postural changes induced significant reductions in heart rate variability (p<0.001), with males experiencing a larger reduction across postures than females (p=0.004).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: