Korean J Fam Med.  2019 Jan;40(1):39-44. 10.4082/kjfm.18.0077.

The Relationship between Heart Rate Variability and Aortic Knob Width

• Sung SY
• Han JH
• Kim JH
• Kwon KY
• Park SW

• KMID: 2431622
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.18.0077

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The aortic knob width (AKW) and the heart rate variability (HRV) were suggested to be related to development of cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between them has not been investigated; thus, this study aimed to determine this relationship.
METHODS
This study included 587 Koreans aged 18-79 years. Their physical measurements, medical and social histories, blood test findings, and chest radiographs were obtained. The HRV parameters included the standard deviation of the N-N interval (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), approximate entropy (ApEn), total power (TP), very low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and LF/HF ratio, which were measured for 5 minutes. The AKW was measured on chest radiographs by a single reviewer.
RESULTS
The AKW was significantly correlated with the HRV parameters, except for the LF/HF ratio. However, RMSSD and ApEn were not significantly related to the AKW in women. After dividing the participants into quartile groups, the AKW was significantly related to the SDNN, RMSSD, TP, VLF, LF, and HF. The HRV parameter values decreased in the higher AKW quartile groups, the HRV parameter values decreased. After adjusting for sex, drinking status, exercise habits, smoking status, waist circumference, and triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, and glycated hemoglobin levels, the AKW showed significant negative associations with the HRV parameters, except for the LF/HF ratio.
CONCLUSION
The AKW is significantly associated with the HRV parameters of SDNN, RMSSD, ApEn, TP, VLF, LF, and HF.

Keyword

Heart Rate Variability; Aortic Knob Width; Cardiovascular Diseases; Thoracic Aorta

MeSH Terms

Aorta, Thoracic
Blood Glucose
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cholesterol
Drinking
Entropy
Fasting
Female
Heart Rate*
Heart*
Hematologic Tests
Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated
Humans
Lipoproteins
Radiography, Thoracic
Smoke
Smoking
Triglycerides
Waist Circumference
Blood Glucose
Cholesterol
Lipoproteins
Smoke