Sleep Med Psychophysiol.  2010 Jun;17(1):21-27.

Correlation between Heart Rate Variability and Sleep Structure in Primary Insomnia

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Konkuk University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. dhpark@kuh.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Psychiatry, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract


OBJECTIVES
It is well established that primary insomnia affects the activity of autonomic nervous system. We tried to know how the activity of autonomic nervous system during night sleep changes by analyzing correlation between heart rate variability (HRV) index and the variables related with sleep structure in primary insomnia.
METHODS
Thirty three subjects (mean age:36.2+/-14.2 years, male:female=15:18) who were diagnosed with primary insomnia were selected for the study. Nocturnal polysomnography (NPSG) was carried out on each subject and correlation was analyzed between high frequency/low frequency ratio (LF/HF ratio), one of HRV indices and the variables related with sleep structure which were calculated from NPSG.
RESULTS
When age and sex were controlled, LF/HF ratio showed negative correlations with slow wave sleep and stage 2 sleep, respectively (r(p)=-0.43, p=0.01;r(p)=-0.37, p=0.04). On the other hands LF/HF ratio showed a positive correlation with arousal index (r(p)=0.65, p<0.001). The activity of autonomic nervous system responded differentially depending on the change of sleep structure in primary insomnia. Especially the increase of arousal index and the decrease of slow wave sleep and stage 2 sleep which are the components of non-REM sleep provoked hyperactivity of sympathetic nervous system.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that the typical change of sleep structure in primary insomnia can negatively impact on cardiovascular system.

Keyword

Primary insomnia; Heart rate variability; Sleep structure

MeSH Terms

Arousal
Autonomic Nervous System
Cardiovascular System
Hand
Heart
Heart Rate
Polysomnography
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
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