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Gastroesophageal reflux is not associated with short-term variability of parasympathetic activity in children

Jan Krzysztof Nowak1, Agata Łaźniak2, Aleksandra Lisowska1

  • 1Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.

Advances in Medical Sciences
|February 26, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) episodes in children do not appear to affect short-term parasympathetic activity. This study found no link between GER events and changes in the body's calming nervous system response.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Autonomic Nervous System Function
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Reduced parasympathetic activity is noted in adults with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
  • The relationship between gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and autonomic function in children remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if GER episodes correlate with short-term variations in parasympathetic tone among pediatric patients.
  • To assess the impact of GER on heart rate variability (HRV) parameters indicative of parasympathetic modulation.

Main Methods:

  • Simultaneous 24-hour esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH and electrocardiographic monitoring were conducted in 16 children.
  • Parasympathetic-related HRV parameters (HF power, r-MSSD) were analyzed in periods before, during, after, and between GER episodes.
  • 483 GER episodes were characterized by duration, height, and acidity.

Main Results:

  • No significant short-term changes in parasympathetic tone were identified in relation to GER episodes.
  • The study did not detect an association between GER events and variability in parasympathetic activity.

Conclusions:

  • GER episodes and their characteristics are not associated with short-term fluctuations in parasympathetic activity in children.
  • Findings suggest that GER does not acutely impact the autonomic nervous system's parasympathetic component in this pediatric cohort.
Abstract

Keywords:
AsthmaAutonomic nervous systemGastroesophageal reflux diseaseHeart rate variabilityImpedance

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