Heart rate variability in men with lower urinary tract symptoms: a case-control study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Autonomic Nervous System Research
• Urology

Background:

• Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity.
• Decreased HRV is linked to autonomic imbalance, poorer health outcomes, and increased mortality.
• Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common in men and may be associated with systemic health issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate heart rate variability (HRV) in men experiencing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
• To compare HRV parameters between men with and without LUTS using a case-control design.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study was conducted involving 89 men (34 with LUTS, 55 without).
• Methods included medical history, LUTS assessment, anthropometry, blood pressure measurement, and HRV analysis.
• HRV was measured by analyzing variations in RR intervals to assess cardiac autonomic modulation.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in age or blood pressure were observed between groups.
• The mean VLF (very low frequency) index, a measure of HRV in the frequency domain, was significantly lower in men with LUTS (69.21 ± 61.98 ms²).
• Men without LUTS had a higher mean VLF index (113.18 ± 166.74 ms²), with a p-value of 0.032.

Conclusions:

• Men aged 50-59 without chronic diseases and presenting with LUTS exhibit an unfavorable cardiac autonomic profile.
• This profile is characterized by significantly lower levels of the VLF component of HRV compared to men without LUTS.
• The findings suggest a potential association between LUTS and impaired cardiac autonomic function.