Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 27, 2026
Calculating Heart Rate Variability from ECG Data from Youth with Cerebral Palsy During Active Video Game Sessions
Published on: June 5, 2019
Interaction Between Heart Rate Variability and Heart Rate in Pediatric Population
Jakub S Gąsior1, Jerzy Sacha2, Piotr J Jeleń3
1Cardiology Clinic of Physiotherapy Division of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw Warsaw, Poland.
Insights
Heart rate significantly impacts heart rate variability (HRV) in children. Normalizing HRV by heart rate reveals age-related decreases, suggesting autonomic nervous system maturation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Autonomic Nervous System Function
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Heart rate variability (HRV) is influenced by heart rate (HR).
- Understanding HR's impact on HRV in children is crucial for accurate assessment.
- Previous studies have not fully elucidated age- and sex-related HRV differences normalized for HR.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of heart rate (HR) on heart rate variability (HRV) in children.
- To determine if HRV indices, normalized to HR, are sex- and age-related.
- To investigate the influence of autonomic nervous system maturation on HRV in pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Short-term ECG recordings in 346 healthy children across four age subgroups (6-13 years).
- Analysis of standard time and frequency domain HRV parameters and HR.
- Normalization of HRV parameters to prevailing HR to assess HR's impact.
Main Results:
- Standard HRV measures did not differ significantly between age subgroups.
- HR significantly decreased with age and was the strongest determinant of HRV.
- Normalized HRV showed a significant decrease with age, an effect masked by HR changes in standard HRV measures.
- Sex-related differences in standard HRV were explained by HR differences between boys and girls.
Conclusions:
- HR is a significant determinant of HRV in the pediatric population.
- Normalized HRV decreases with age in healthy children, reflecting autonomic nervous system maturation.
- Apparent constancy of standard HRV with age is due to concurrent HR reduction.
Background:
Heart rate variability (HRV) is primarily heart rate (HR) dependent, and therefore, different HR may exert different impact on HRV. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effect of HR on HRV in children and to determine whether HRV indices normalized to HR are sex- and age-related.
Methods:
Short-term ECG recordings were performed in 346 healthy children. Standard time and frequency domain HRV parameters and HR were analyzed in four age subgroups (6-7, 8-9, 10-11, and 12-13 years old). To investigate the HR impact on HRV, standard HRV parameters were normalized to prevailing HR.
Results:
Standard HRV measures did not differ between age subgroups, however, HR significantly decreased with subjects age and turned out to be the strongest determinant of HRV. The normalization of HRV to prevailing HR allowed to show that sex-related differences in standard HRV resulted from differences in HR between boys and girls. The normalized HRV significantly decreased with age-before the normalization this effect was masked by age-related HR alterations.
Conclusions:
HR significantly impacts HRV in pediatric population and turns out to be the strongest determinant of all standard HRV indices. The differences in standard HRV between boys and girls result from differences in their HR. The normalized HRV is decreasing with age in healthy children and it is accompanied by the reduction of HR-as a net result, the standard HRV is constant in children at different ages. This may reflect the maturation of the autonomic nervous system.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Factors Influencing Heart Rate
Let us explore the significant factors affecting heart rate, including age, body temperature, posture, acute pain, chemical influences,...
01:19Cardiac Output I:Effect of Heart Rate on Cardiac Output
Cardiac output (CO) refers to the total amount of blood ejected by one of the ventricles in liters per minute (L/min). In a resting adult, CO ranges from 5 to 6 L/min, adjusting according to the body's metabolic requirements.
Effect of Heart Rate on Cardiac Output
Cardiac output adapts to metabolic demands during stress, physical activity, or illness. The autonomic nervous system regulates heart rate via the sinoatrial node. The parasympathetic nervous system decreases heart...
01:31Regulation of Heart Rates
The SNS increases heart rate through the release of norepinephrine and epinephrine, which act on beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the heart. This action increases the rate of depolarization in the sinoatrial (SA) node, the heart's...
01:25Correlation between ECG and Cardiac Cycle
A cardiac action potential originates in the SA node and spreads throughout the atria and the AV node in approximately 0.03 seconds. This results in the P wave in an ECG and triggers atrial contraction. The action potential is then briefly slowed at the AV node, allowing the atria to contract and fill the ventricles with blood before...
01:30Pulse rhythm
Conversely, an irregular pulse pattern is termed dysrhythmia, stemming from disruptions in cardiac...
01:20Regulation of Pulse