Central adiposity and decreased heart rate variability in postmenopause: a cross-sectional study. (October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Franz, R.; Maturana, M. A.; Magalhães, J. A.; Moraes, R. S.; Spritzer, P. M.
• Is Part Of: Climacteric. Volume 16:Number 5(2013:Oct.)
• Page Start: 576
• Page End: 583
• Publication Date: 2013-10
• Subjects: Menopause -- Periodicals; Menopause -- Hormone therapy -- Periodicals; Menopause -- Periodicals; Estrogen Replacement Therapy -- Periodicals; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Societies, Medical -- Periodicals; 612.665
• DOI: 10.3109/13697137.2012.745123
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-7137

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Objective</italic> To investigate the impact of waist circumference (WC) on heart rate variability in 87 apparently healthy, postmenopausal women.</p> <p> <italic>Methods</italic> In this cross-sectional study, time- and frequency-domain heart rate variability indices were determined at rest and during sympathetic stimulation with mental stress. Patients were stratified according to WC ≥ or < 88 cm. The mean (± standard deviation) age was 55 ± 5 years. The median time since menopause was 6 (range 1–22) years. Age and time since menopause were similar.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic> The mean body mass index was 27.12 ± 4.49 kg/m². Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 26 (29.5%) participants. Thirty-eight participants (43.6%) had hypertension. Women with WC ≥ 88 cm had higher body mass index, glucose and insulin (both fasting and after a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test), HOMA, triglycerides, and free androgen index (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05). The metabolic syndrome was more frequent in women with WC ≥ 88 cm (24.13% vs. 5.74%; <italic>p</italic> < 0.01). At rest, women with WC ≥ 88 cm presented lower vagal modulation, expressed by a reduction in the mean of all normal RR intervals (mean RR) (<italic>p</italic> < 0.01) and root mean square of successive differences of adjacent RR intervals (rMSSD) (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05) than women with WC < 88 cm. Mental stress significantly increased sympathetic modulation in both groups, expressed by reduction in high frequency (HF), increase in low frequency (LF) and LF/F ratio, and reduction in mean RR and rMSSD.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusions</italic> Less favorable metabolic profile and lower cardiac vagal modulation with preserved sympathetic responsiveness were found in participants with WC ≥ 88 cm, suggesting that central adiposity may be associated with decreased heart rate variability in apparently healthy, postmenopausal women.</p> </abstract>