In older patients with cerebral small vessel disease, the presence and severity of white matter hyperintensities were independently associated with decreased LF/HF ratio (p < 0.05).
Cross-Sectional (n=108)
No
Is white matter hyperintensity burden associated with altered heart rate variability in older patients with cerebral small vessel disease?
In older patients with cerebral small vessel disease, increased white matter hyperintensity burden is independently associated with decreased LF/HF ratio on short-range HRV recordings, suggesting decreased cardiac sympathetic activity.
p-value: p=<0.05
Purpose Heart rate variability (HRV) has been linked to cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) development. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and HRV in older patients with CSVD. Methods Patients with CSVD aged ≥ 60 years, diagnosed via magnetic resonance imaging and treated at Tianjin Huanhu Hospital in October 2022–April 2023, were included. WMH burden was defined as periventricular (PV-WMH) or deep WMH (D-WMH), with Fazekas scores of 3 or 2–3, respectively. Modified WMH burden was categorized based on total Fazekas scores (PV-WMH + D-WMH): grade 0 for 0–2, grade 1 for 3–4, and grade 2 for 5–6. Patient demographics were documented, and HRV was analyzed through 10-min short-range electrocardiography recordings. Time-domain indices included standard deviation of N–N intervals, root-mean-squared differences of successive N–N intervals, and the proportion of N–N intervals exceeding 50 ms. Frequency-domain indices included low-frequency power (LF, 0.04–0.15 Hz), high-frequency power (HF, 0.15–0.4 Hz), and LF/HF. Correlations were examined using univariable and multivariable analyses. Results Among 108 patients with CSVD (age 60–87 years; median 66.0 years interquartile range 63.0–71.0), WMH burden was associated with sex, age, stroke, LF, and LF/HF (p < 0.05), with LF/HF independently linked in multivariable analysis. Modified WMH burden showed similar associations and remained independently correlated with LF/HF (p < 0.05). Conclusions The presence and severity of WMH in CSVD were related to decreased LF/HF. This is possibly due to decreased cardiac sympathetic activity, indicates that decreased LF/HF may be a potential risk factor for WMH, and can be detected via short HRV recordings.
Li et al. (Wed,) conducted a cross-sectional in Cerebral small vessel disease (n=108). White matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden was evaluated on Association between WMH burden and LF/HF ratio (p=<0.05). In older patients with cerebral small vessel disease, the presence and severity of white matter hyperintensities were independently associated with decreased LF/HF ratio (p < 0.05).