Korean Circ J.  2001 Jan;31(1):107-113. 10.4070/kcj.2001.31.1.107.

Determinants of Heart Rate Variability in General Korean Population

• Chun H
• Kim S
• Sung J
• Paek D

• KMID: 2029541
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2001.31.1.107

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Heart rate variability has been known to be a prognostic factor of heart disease. However, determinants of heart rate variability in general korean population without clinical heart disease have not been studied. Objectives of this study were to measure heart rate variability in general population and to investigate clinical determinants of heart rate variability.
METHODS
Heart rate variability measures were obtained by LRR-03TM and MemCalcTM software (GMS, Tokyo, Japan) from public officials in a district of Seoul and their families(n=69). Predictors of heart rate variability included age, gender, heart rate, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol. Univariate analysis and analysis of variance of low frequency power(0.04-0.15 Hz), high frequency power(0.15-0.30 Hz), and total power spectrum in relation to explanatory variables were done. In order to select determinants of heart rate variability, multiple linear regression model of each heart rate variability measure was created and stepwise selection method was applied.
RESULTS
Analysis of variance showed that older age, higher heart rate, body mass index > or =27, systolic blood pressure > or =140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure > or =90 mmHg, and serum total cholesterol > or =240 mg/dl were negatively associated with one or more heart rate variability measures. Serum HDL-cholesterol > or =35 mg/dl was positively associated with low and high frequency power. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that age and heart rate were the major determinants, gender and cardiovascular risk factors such as diastolic blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol, and smoking contributed to one or more heart rate variability measures.
CONCLUSIONS
Age, heart rate, gender, and cardiovascular risk factors must be considered when evaluating heart rate variability.

Keyword

Power spectral analysis

MeSH Terms

Blood Pressure
Body Mass Index
Cholesterol
Heart Diseases
Heart Rate*
Heart*
Linear Models
Risk Factors
Seoul
Smoke
Smoking
Cholesterol
Smoke