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Geomagnetic disturbances reduce heart rate variability in the Normative Aging Study
Carolina L Zilli Vieira1, Kelly Chen1, Eric Garshick2
1Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
The Science of the Total Environment
|June 1, 2022
Summary
Geomagnetic activity significantly reduces heart rate variability (HRV), a key indicator of cardiovascular health. This study links intense geomagnetic disturbances to decreased HRV, especially in older men with heart conditions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Geophysics
Background:
- Solar and geomagnetic activity are associated with increased cardiovascular events.
- Heart rate variability (HRV) may mediate the link between geomagnetic disturbances and cardiovascular risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of geomagnetic activity (GA) and intense geomagnetic disturbances (GMD) on HRV.
- To explore HRV as a biological mechanism linking GA/GMD to cardiovascular risk.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of HRV (r-MSSD and SDNN) in 809 elderly men using mixed-effects regression models.
- Correlation of HRV with planetary K-Index (Kp) data, focusing on intense GMD (>75th Kp).
- Comparison of associations in participants with and without comorbidities like diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD).
Main Results:
- Higher Kp levels were associated with reduced HRV within 24 hours.
- A 75th percentile increase in Kp correlated with significant decreases in r-MSSD (-14.7 ms) and SDNN (-8.2 ms).
- Associations persisted after adjusting for air pollutants and were stronger in patients with CHD and diabetes.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first epidemiological evidence of adverse effects of geomagnetic activity on HRV.
- Reduced HRV due to geomagnetic activity may have clinical implications for various populations.
- HRV could be a crucial biomarker for understanding the health impacts of geomagnetic disturbances.
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