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Evidence of increased cardiovascular disease risk in left-handed individuals
Abigayle B Simon1, Kimberly Norland1, Marsha Blackburn1
1Georgia Prevention Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States.
Insights
Left-handed individuals exhibit lower vascular endothelial function and heart rate variability, indicating a potential increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). These findings suggest LH individuals may face greater CVD challenges than RH individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Approximately 10% of the global population is left-handed (LH).
- Previous research suggests potential links between left-handedness and shorter lifespans, as well as increased risks for conditions like diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether vascular function and heart rate variability (HRV), key indicators of CVD risk, are diminished in left-handed (LH) individuals compared to right-handed (RH) individuals.
- To test the hypothesis that LH individuals have poorer vascular health and HRV, suggesting a higher predisposition to CVD.
Main Methods:
- The study enrolled 379 participants aged 18-50.
- Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) assessed vascular endothelial function, and the standard deviation of the R-R interval (SDNN) measured HRV as indices of CVD risk.
Main Results:
- Left-handedness was present in 12.1% of participants.
- Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was significantly lower in LH individuals (6.1% ± 3.2%) compared to RH individuals (7.6% ± 3.8%).
- Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, including total power, low-frequency power, and SDNN, were significantly lower in LH individuals.
Conclusions:
- Left-handed individuals demonstrate reduced vascular endothelial function and HRV compared to right-handed individuals.
- The observed differences suggest a potentially elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the left-handed population.
- Specific relationships between FMD and traditional CVD risk factors were identified exclusively in left-handed participants.
Background:
Approximately 10% of the world is left-handed (LH). Research suggests that LH individuals may have shorter lifespans compared to right-handed (RH) individuals. LH individuals also appear to have more cardiovascular disease (CVD) related conditions like diabetes and cancer. Thus, the present study sought to test the hypothesis that vascular function and heart rate variability (HRV), both key indicators of CVD risk, would be lower in LH compared to RH individuals.
Methods:
Three hundred seventy-nine participants, 18-50 years old, were enrolled. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a bioassay of vascular endothelial function and standard deviation of R-R interval (SDNN), a parameter of HRV, were evaluated as indices of CVD risk. Data are reported as mean ± SD.
Results:
12.1% of the participants were LH. No differences in demographics or clinical laboratory values were observed between groups, except high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was higher (p = 0.033) in RH. FMD was significantly (p = 0.043) lower in LH (6.1% ± 3.2%) compared to RH (7.6% ± 3.8%), independent of age, sex, race, BMI, and HDL. Total power (p = 0.024) and low-frequency power (p = 0.003) were lower in LH compared to RH. Additionally, SDNN was lower (p = 0.041) in LH (47.4 ± 18.8 ms) compared to RH (54.7 ± 22.3 ms). A negative correlation between FMD and mean arterial pressure (r = -0.517; p < 0.001) was observed in LH; no relationships were observed in RH (all p > 0.05).
Conclusion:
Vascular endothelial function and HRV are lower in LH compared to RH. In addition, relationships between FMD and traditional CVD risk factors were only observed in LH. These data support an increased risk of CVD in LH.
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