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Updated: Mar 25, 2026
Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Children
Published on: April 29, 2013
Relationship Between Heart Rate Variability and Sleep Among Girls and Boys With Abdominal Pain-Related Disorders of
Kendra J Kamp1, Robert L Burr1, Camden E Matherne2
1Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Insights
Children with gut-brain interaction disorders often have sleep issues. This study found links between autonomic nervous system activity, measured by heart rate variability (HRV), and disturbed sleep patterns in these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Autonomic Nervous System Research
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Children with abdominal pain-related disorders of gut-brain interaction (AP-DGBI) frequently experience sleep disturbances.
- The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a potential mediator linking AP-DGBI and sleep issues.
- Heart rate variability (HRV) serves as a non-invasive indicator of ANS activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between HRV and sleep disturbances in children with AP-DGBI.
- To explore the physiological mechanisms underlying sleep disturbances in pediatric AP-DGBI.
- To determine if ANS function correlates with specific sleep characteristics in affected children.
Main Methods:
- Utilized baseline data from a randomized control trial involving 156 children (ages 7-12) diagnosed with AP-DGBI.
- Measured HRV using a Polar monitor post-dinner and assessed sleep disturbances via the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire.
- Employed partial correlations, controlling for age and stratifying by sex, to analyze associations between HRV indices and sleep characteristics.
Main Results:
- In girls, higher parasympathetic activity correlated with longer sleep onset delay, and lower heart rate with increased sleep anxiety.
- In boys, reduced autonomic balance was linked to greater daytime sleepiness.
- Both sexes showed lower low-frequency HRV associated with increased sleep-disordered breathing; children with sleep-disordered breathing had significantly lower HRV.
Conclusions:
- The autonomic nervous system appears to play a role in sleep disturbances experienced by children with AP-DGBI.
- These findings suggest ANS dysfunction as a potential mechanism contributing to sleep problems in this population.
- Further longitudinal research is recommended to validate the ANS-sleep relationship in pediatric AP-DGBI.
Background:
Children with abdominal pain-related disorders of gut-brain interaction (AP-DGBI) often experience sleep disturbances which may be linked to the autonomic nervous system. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive measure of autonomic nervous system activity. Our aim was to examine if HRV was associated with characteristics of disturbed sleep in children with AP-DGBI in order to elucidate the underlying physiological mechanisms of disturbed sleep.
Methods:
This analysis used baseline data from a randomized control trial of 156 children ages 7-12 years with AP-DGBI. HRV was measured after dinner using a Polar monitor. Sleep disturbances were evaluated using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire. Associations between HRV indices and sleep characteristics were determined using partial correlations controlling for age and stratified by sex.
Key Results:
Among girls, higher parasympathetic activity (Ln RMSSD and Ln pNN50) was associated with longer sleep onset delay while lower heart rate was correlated with increased sleep anxiety. Among boys, lower autonomic balance (Ln LF/HF ratio) was associated with increased daytime sleepiness. In both sexes, lower low frequency HRV was associated with greater sleep-disordered breathing. Post hoc analysis of multiple indices revealed that children with sleep-disordered breathing had significantly lower HRV vs. those without disordered breathing.
Conclusions & Inferences:
The autonomic nervous system may be a potential mechanism which impacts sleep among children with AP-DGBI. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm this relationship.
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