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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology
Published on: February 7, 2015
Reduced low-frequency heart rate variability relates to greater intimal-medial thickness of the carotid wall in two
Clara Gautier1, Lynn Stine, J Richard Jennings
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Insights
Low-frequency heart rate variability is linked to early signs of atherosclerosis, specifically carotid intima-media thickening. This finding suggests a connection between heart rhythm and preclinical vascular disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Medical Diagnostics
- Atherosclerosis Research
Background:
- Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a key indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis.
- Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects autonomic nervous system function.
- Investigating the link between HRV and CIMT can reveal early markers of cardiovascular disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between heart rate variability (HRV) and preclinical carotid intima-media thickening (CIMT).
- To determine if specific HRV frequency components correlate with early atherosclerotic changes.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 350 adults (mean age 56.8) with and without hypertension.
- Assessment of resting heart rate variability (HRV) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) via duplex ultrasonography.
- Validation in a subsample of 68 men from the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor trial.
Main Results:
- A significant negative correlation was found between mean CIMT and low-frequency (LF) HRV (0.05-0.15 Hz) in both study samples.
- No significant relationship was observed between CIMT and high-frequency (HF) HRV.
- Regression analyses controlled for known cardiovascular risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Decreased amplitude of low-frequency HRV is associated with preclinical atherosclerosis.
- The findings suggest a potential role for sympathetic nervous system activity or vessel wall characteristics in this association.
- The lack of association with HF-HRV suggests the relationship may not be solely mediated by vagal tone.
Introduction:
We investigated the relationship between heart rate variability and preclinical carotid intima-media thickening, a putative index of atherosclerosis.
Methods:
A sample of 350 men and women (mean age 56.8 years) selected for the presence or absence of untreated hypertension was assessed for heart rate variability at rest and separately for carotid intima-media thickness using duplex ultrasonography (Pittsburgh study). Findings from this sample were cross-validated in a subsample of 68 men drawn from the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor trial and selected for the presence or absence of angina.
Results:
In both samples, regression analyses, controlling for known risk factors, showed a significant negative relationship between mean carotid intima-media thickness and low-frequency (0.05-0.15 Hz) heart rate variability, but not high-frequency variability.
Discussion:
The mechanism underlying this relationship remains unclear. The absence of difference in high-frequency variation questions any interpretation in terms of vagal function; the difference in low-frequency variation may implicate vessel wall characteristics or decreased sympathetic nervous system influence.
Conclusion:
Decreased amplitude of low-frequency heart rate variability seems associated with a preclinical atherosclerotic index.
