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Heart rate variability of children with mitral valve prolapse

L Han1, T F Ho, W C Yip

  • 1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.

Journal of Electrocardiology
|August 23, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Children with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) exhibit reduced heart rate variability (HRV), indicating autonomic dysfunction. This suggests decreased parasympathetic activity and altered sympathovagal balance in pediatric MVP patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Autonomic Nervous System Function
  • Cardiac Electrophysiology

Background:

  • Adults with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) may experience autonomic dysfunction.
  • Heart rate variability (HRV) is a key indicator of autonomic regulation.
  • Understanding autonomic function in pediatric MVP is crucial for clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate heart rate variability (HRV) in children diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse (MVP).
  • To compare HRV parameters between children with MVP and healthy controls.
  • To explore potential differences in HRV based on symptoms, age, and sex in pediatric MVP.

Main Methods:

  • Sixty-seven children with MVP (ages 6-18) and 37 age-matched controls underwent 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring.
  • ECG data were analyzed using time-domain and frequency-domain (spectral analysis) methods.
  • Analysis included assessment of various HRV indices, including SDANN, high frequency (HF), and low frequency (LF) components.

Main Results:

  • Children with MVP demonstrated significantly lower time-domain HRV indices (except SDANN) compared to controls.
  • Reduced spectral power in both high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) components was observed in children with MVP.
  • The low frequency to high frequency ratio (LF/HF) was significantly elevated in children with MVP, suggesting sympathovagal imbalance.

Conclusions:

  • Children with MVP exhibit diminished HRV, indicative of autonomic dysfunction.
  • Findings suggest decreased parasympathetic activity and a shift in sympathovagal balance in pediatric MVP.
  • Sex differences in HRV were noted, with girls showing lower HRV than boys, potentially influenced by heart rate variations.

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