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[Studies of arrhythmia incidence and heart rate variability in patients with stable angina pectoris]
1Katedra i Klinika Kardiologii AM we Wrocławiu.
Insights
Patients with stable angina experience more cardiac arrhythmias and reduced heart rate variability (HRV) compared to healthy individuals. Previous myocardial infarction did not significantly alter HRV in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Autonomic Nervous System Function
Background:
- Continuous Holter ECG monitoring is a non-invasive method for assessing cardiac arrhythmias, heart rate variability (HRV), and autonomic nervous system function.
- Stable angina patients represent a significant population for cardiovascular health studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cardiac arrhythmias and HRV in patients with stable angina.
- To compare HRV between stable angina patients with and without a history of myocardial infarction (MI).
Main Methods:
- Utilized 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring in 156 stable angina patients and 50 healthy controls.
- Assessed heart rate variability using time-domain analysis of RR intervals.
- Ensured standardized conditions, excluding specific medications and controlling for activity levels.
Main Results:
- Patients with stable angina exhibited higher incidence of cardiac arrhythmias and depressed 24-hour HRV compared to healthy controls.
- Depressed HRV was observed during both daily activity and nighttime rest in angina patients.
- No significant difference in HRV was found between angina patients with and without prior MI, though those without MI had slower overall heart rates.
Conclusions:
- Stable angina is associated with increased cardiac arrhythmias and impaired HRV.
- Autonomic dysfunction, indicated by reduced HRV, is prevalent in stable angina patients.
- A history of MI does not appear to further significantly impact HRV in stable angina patients.
Abstract:
Continuous Holter ECG monitoring is a valuable, easy to perform, non-invasive method of assessing not only cardiac arrhythmias but also heart rate variability and autonomic nervous system function. The aim of the study was to determine cardiac arrhythmias and HRV in patients with stable angina with and without previous myocardial infarction. 156 patients, 92 with and 64 without previous myocardial infarction, were examined. The control group consists of 50 healthy volunteers of the same age and sex. No pharmacological treatment except nitroglycerin was applied 2 days before and during examination, blood electrolytes were normal and 24-hour activity was the same in both examined groups. Heart rate variability was assessed by calculation of indices based on statistical operations on RR intervals (time-domain analysis). As a result of the study it was found out that in patients with stable angina pectoris cardiac arrhythmias occur more often and 24-hour heart rate variability is depressed as well as during daily activity and night resting than in healthy persons. In patients without previous myocardial infarction it was found out that 24-hour heart rate was slower than in patients with previous myocardial infarction, which depended mainly on slower heart rate during night, heart rate variability was not significantly different between these groups.