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Walking Capacity Is Positively Related with Heart Rate Variability in Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease.
A H R A Lima1, A H G Soares2, G G Cucato3
1School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Summary
Greater walking capacity in peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients is linked to better heart rate variability (HRV). This study found higher walking ability correlated with improved HRV metrics.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Exercise Physiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD) significantly impacts patient mobility and quality of life.
- Heart rate variability (HRV) is a key indicator of autonomic nervous system function and cardiovascular health.
- Understanding the relationship between functional capacity and autonomic function in PAD is crucial for risk stratification and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between walking capacity and heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD).
- To explore how different levels of walking ability in PAD patients relate to their autonomic nervous system function as measured by HRV.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 95 patients with symptomatic PAD.
- Resting HRV was assessed using time, frequency, and non-linear domain analyses.
- Maximal walking distance (MWD) and claudication distance (CD) were determined via a maximal treadmill test (Gardner protocol).
Main Results:
- Patients with higher maximal walking distance (MWD) demonstrated significantly greater heart rate variability (HRV) compared to those with lower MWD.
- MWD showed a positive association with time domain and non-linear HRV indices (p < .05).
- No significant correlations were found between claudication distance (CD) and HRV parameters.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced walking capacity in symptomatic PAD patients is associated with improved heart rate variability (HRV).
- These findings suggest that functional exercise capacity may serve as a relevant indicator of autonomic regulation in PAD.
- Further research could explore interventions to improve walking capacity and HRV in PAD patients.
Keywords:
Cardiac autonomic modulationCardiovascular riskIntermittent claudicationMaximal walking distanceMore Related Videos
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