[FEATURES OF HEART RATE VARIABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH ASSOCIATIVE COURSE OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE AND...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Gastroenterology
• Autonomic Nervous System Research

Background:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hypertension are prevalent conditions.
• The interplay between GERD, hypertension, and autonomic nervous system function is not fully understood.
• Comorbidities can significantly impact physiological parameters like heart rate variability (HRV).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the characteristics of heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with comorbid gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hypertension.
• To compare HRV parameters between patients with isolated GERD, isolated hypertension, and combined GERD and hypertension.
• To assess the impact of GERD and hypertension comorbidity on autonomic nervous system activity.

Main Methods:

• Study included 83 patients: 68 in the main group (GERD, hypertension, or both) and 15 healthy controls.
• Patients were categorized into isolated GERD, isolated hypertension, and combined GERD and hypertension groups.
• Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, including time and spectral domains, were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Patients with comorbid GERD and hypertension exhibited altered HRV, indicating increased sympathetic nervous system activation and reduced parasympathetic influence.
• HRV patterns varied based on GERD clinical and endoscopic presentation.
• Endoscopically positive GERD (EPRD) was associated with significant increases in time-domain (SDNN, SDANN, SDNN-index) and spectral (VLF, HF) HRV parameters.

Conclusions:

• The combined course of GERD and hypertension leads to a significant reduction in HRV time and spectral parameters.
• These HRV reductions are most pronounced in patients with reflux esophagitis.
• Comorbidity exacerbates sympathetic overactivity and leads to parasympathetic failure, diminishing adaptive capacities and negatively impacting cardiovascular and autonomic health.