Associations between insulin and heart rate variability in police officers

Abstract

Objective Low heart rate variability (HRV) has been linked to cardiovascular disease. Our objective was to examine the cross-sectional association between insulin and HRV. Methods Insulin levels were measured in 355 nondiabetic officers from the BCOPS study, following a 12 h fast. HRV was performed according to methods published by the task force of the European Society of Cardiology and the North American Society of Pacing Electrophysiology for measurement and analysis of HRV. Mean values of high (HF) and low frequency (LF) HRV were compared across tertiles of insulin using ANOVA and ANCOVA; p-values were obtained from linear regression models. Results Higher mean levels of insulin were significantly associated with lower (i.e., worse) mean levels of HRV before and after risk-factor adjustment. The results for HF HRV (ms2) were as follows: 1st insulin (µU/ml) tertile (156.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 128.6–189.9); 2nd tertile (154.3; 95% CI = 124.3–191.5); 3rd tertile (127.9; 95% CI = 105.0–155.8), p for trend = 0.017. Results with LF HRV were similar to HF HRV. Insulin was also inversely and significantly associated with HRV among officers with BMI ≥25 kg/m2, with ≥25.5% body fat, and among those who reported low (<median) physical activity scores. Conclusions In this cohort, insulin levels were inversely and significantly associated with both HF and LF HRV, especially among those with higher levels of obesity and lower levels of physical activity, suggesting associations with autonomic nervous system function. Prospective studies of this association in other populations are warranted.

Risk Factors Associated with Cardiac Autonomic Modulation in Obese Individuals

“…A similar association was reported in a study from our research group in which participants with metabolic syndrome had elevated blood glucose levels associated with reduced parasympathetic modulation [14]. Also in this perspective, insulin was inversely associated with HRV among patients with higher levels of obesity and lower levels of PA [28], since the severely obese in the present study showed a low amount of minutes spent on MVPA (98.92 ± 41.00 min/week).…”

Difference of catecholamine responses to exercise in men with trisomy 21, with or without chronotropic incompetence

“…type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity) also had lower VO 2peak and HR peak [48][49][50]. Recent studies [51,52] have shown that increased insulin and leptin levels are known to adversely affect autonomic nervous system function. High levels of leptin have been shown to be associated with decreased cardiac tone, and hyperinsulinemia to be associated with lower levels of heart rate variability [53,54].…”

Poor glycemic control impacts linear and non-linear dynamics of heart rate in DM type 2

“…Charles et al recently found that insulin levels were inversely and significantly associated with both HF and LF HRV, although only among those with higher levels of obesity and lower levels of physical activity 34 . Future studies is needed to assess this relationship.…”