Effect of Respiration in Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Analysis

Abstract

Beat-to-beat changes in cardiac signals or heart rate variability (HRV) are controlled by the two branches of autonomic nervous system (ANS) in a very complex manner. Although traditional HRV (tHRV) analysis has shown to provide information on cardiac ANS control, it often fails to isolate the effect of two branches in HRV signals. This problem becomes more obvious especially at low respiratory rates since parasympathetic activity shifts into lower frequencies and overlaps the frequency interval where sympathetic region is defined. To investigate the effect of respiration in HRV analysis we have analyzed the data of 17 healthy subjects while they were performing normal breathing (NB) and deep breathing (DB). Data were analyzed and compared using both tHRV analysis and enhanced HRV (eHRV) analysis where we used respiration to locate the frequency interval of parasympathetic activity in HRV signal. eHRV analysis provided proper isolation and more accurate detection of parasympathetic and sympathetic control of the heart.

Low frequency power of heart rate variability reflects baroreflex function, not cardiac sympathetic innervation

“…The ANSAR device applies the concept that LF power is composed of sympathetic and parasympathetic contributions and that the latter is determined importantly by respiratory sinus arrhythmia [1, 2, 4, 20]. ANSAR reports include LFa as a parameter for respiration-adjusted LF power.…”

“…It is generally accepted that HF power reflects respiratory sinus arrhythmia, which is mediated by the parasympathetic cholinergic system; however, the origins and clinical significance of LF power have aroused persistent controversy. Although it was suggested initially that LF power provides an index of cardiac sympathetic outflow [1, 2, 20], more recent studies have cast doubt on this view and support the notion that both sympathetic and parasympathetic outflows determine LF power [4, 21]. …”

Altered cardiorespiratory coupling in young male adults with excessive online gaming

“…Recordings were obtained while participants were seated in a recliner and asked to breathe normally and limit movement. Because regular deep breathing may enhance the effects of respiration on HRV measures, normal breathing was used (Aysin and Aysin, 2006). Analog signals were automatically digitized at a sampling rate of 512 Hz.…”

Peak High-Frequency HRV and Peak Alpha Frequency Higher in PTSD

“…Any significant global EEG measure was further tested with anterior, posterior, right and left channel designations in post hoc analyses. ECG measures were analyzed using ANCOVA with respiration as a covariate to account for respiratory sinus arrhythmia (Aysin and Aysin 2006). Significant results were further tested with ECG medication status as a covariate to ensure medication status was not confounding the results.…”