Changes of Heart Rate Variability in Patients with Postmenopausal Syndrome after Hormonal Replacement Treatment

Abstract

Background and Objectives Climacteric women often suffer from vasomotor symptoms. These symptoms are thought to be related to an imbalance of autonomic control of the cardiovascular system and are effectively controlled with hormonal replacement therapy. Heart rate variability HRV reflects the autonomic integration of the cardiovascular system. In this study, we attempted to compare the HRV indices of postmenopausal women before and after hormonal replacement therapy. Subjects and Methods Eighteen patients with postmenopausal syndrome mean age 53 4 years received estrogen and/or progesterone replacement therapy. They underwent 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring at baseline and after the early period of therapy mean 112 19 days and eleven patients underwent the examination after the later period of therapy mean 213 23 days . HRV was analyzed over a full 24-hour period, using time and frequency domain para-meters. Results No statistically significant HRV change was observed during the early period of therapy. However, during the later therpy period , HRV indices such as rMSSD from 27.6 to 31.3 msec , HF from 4.8 to 5.05 ln ms 2 , LF/HF ratio from 1.17 to 1.12 were significantly changed p value 0.05 . Conclusion HRV was significantly changed in postmenopausal women during the later period of hormonal replacement therapy.