Can body mass index identify cardiac autonomic dysfunction in women who are apparently healthy?

Abstract

We investigated the extent to which obesity could identify autonomic dysfunction of heart control in a cross-sectional study with 65 women (aged 18-45 years), categorized as eutrophic, overweight or obese. We collected anthropometric measures and measures of heart rate variability (HRV) between March 2015 and March 2017. Low frequency in normalized units (LF (nu) ) over 46 was considered a marker of autonomic imbalance and high frequency in normalized units (HF (nu) ) below 38 a marker of depressed vagal modulation. Overweight (mean difference MΔHF (nu) = −13.11 [95% confidence interval (CI) of difference, −25.88, −0.34], Hedges's g = 0.65, common language effect size (CL) = 68.1%) and obese (MΔHF (nu) = −21.22 [95% CI, −31.89, −10.55], Hedges's g = 1.17, CL = 79.2%) women presented depressed vagal modulation compared to eutrophic women. Autonomic imbalance increased as body mass index increased (eutrophic-to-overweight MΔLF (nu) = 13.06 [95% CI, 1.65, 24.47], g = 0.65, CL = 67.9%, and overweight-to-obese MΔLF (nu) = 21.07 [95% CI, 10.32, 31.82], g = 1.15, CL 78.9%). The odds ratio for depressed HF (nu) among overweight women was 2.36 (95% CI 0.77, 7.29) and 2.18 among obese women (95% CI 0.79, 5.99), as well as 9.17 (95% CI 2.62, 32.04) and 17.39 for increased LF (nu) (95% CI 2.13, 141.76), respectively. The parasympathetic activity is diminished and autonomic imbalance of the cardiac control increased with increasing BMI categories.

Correlation between physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate variability among young overweight adults

“…The resting heart rate influences autonomic control, and a higher resting heart rate is indicative of reduced parasympathetic activity. 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 In the present study, the average resting heart rate of overweight individuals was 70 beats per minute. Also, CAF fluctuates throughout the day and varies according to different activities, the regulation of hormones and muscle mass in an individual.…”

Does Obesity Aggravate Climacteric Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women?

“…In addition, changes in thermoregulation and reduction in heat release occur due to the accumulation of adipose tissue. 32,33 Individual factors associated with obesity, such as low schooling and economic levels, poor general health and stressful events, also favor the onset and worsening of symptoms. 4,34 Data from several longitudinal studies have shown that the prevalence of symptoms can also vary among countries due to ethnic, regional and climatic factors, such as increased or reduced exposure to sunlight.…”

“…In addition, changes in thermoregulation and reduction in heat release occur due to the accumulation of adipose tissue. 32 33 …”