Impact of obesity on cardiac autonomic functions in middle aged males

Abstract

Background: Obesity and health hazards associated with it are leading cause of death worldwide. The incidents of obesity are also rising at an alarming rate in the urban Indian population. Obesity is associated with adverse cardiovascular events which could be due to the altered autonomic balance seen in these individuals. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive economical tool to assess the autonomic function. Aims & Objective: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of obesity on heart rate variability and to establish the relationship between BMI and HRV parameters. Materials and Methods: Forty six males in the age group of 40-55 years, who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were included in the study. The subjects were divided into two groups as obese and non-obese based on their BMI as per WHO guidelines for Asian subjects. The ECG was recorded for a period of 10 minutes and frequency domain parameters of HRV were derived from it. Parameters obtained were compared between both the groups using independent 't' test and relationship between BMI and HRV parameters was established using Pearson's correlation test. P < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Obese individuals exhibited significantly lower values of both low and high frequency and normalized high frequency parameters. The ratio between low and high frequency and normalized low frequency parameters were significantly higher in obese group. A significant negative association was also observed between BMI and normalized high frequency parameter. Conclusion: A reduced parasympathetic activity associated with elevated sympathetic was observed in middle aged obese males in the resting state. This is suggestive of a higher risk for development of cardiovascular disorders.

A Comparative Study of Heart Rate Variability in Middle Aged Obese Male and Non Obese Male

“…But resting heart rate was not varying in the both groups. Similar results were also observed by Anahita R Shenoy et al [8] in the age group of 40-55 years, Savas Sarikaya et al [9] in the 100 young age and sex matched patients, and Rajalakshmi et al [10] but their study was in younger population in the age group of 18-20 years. Chetan HA et al [11] have reported similar results in 20-24-year-old young Indian males, but their criteria for obesity classification (BMI > 30 kg/m 2 ) was different.…”

“…The factors like age, gender and physical activity can also influence the HRV other than obesity [8]. In this study, age and sex matched 100 healthy middle aged obese and non-obese male individuals were participated (Table 1).…”

“…Previous studies have shown an elevated level of insulin and leptin in obese individuals. This increased level of insulin and leptin could be a reason for the increased sympathetic activity [8]. Simran Grewal et.…”

A Body Shape Index and Heart Rate Variability in Healthy Indians with Low Body Mass Index

“…Decreased heart rate variability (both low and high frequency) has been observed in obese, compared to individuals with normal BMI [ 9 – 11 ]. Pockets of data available from Indian population are not different from those of western data [ 12 , 13 ]. However, India has an additional burden of chronic energy deficiency with one-third of population being of low BMI [ 14 ].…”

Relation of Body mass index to Heart rate variability in female medical students

“…Obesity is one of the causes for majority of cardiovascular diseases. Obesity is an excess fat deposition of fat in the body individual (Shenoy et al, 2014) . Increased BMI also a risk factor for other some disease such as diabetes, stroke, osteoarthri-tis, respiratory dif iculties, etc.…”