Evaluation of Association Between Hyperlipidemia and Heart Rate Variability in Subjects Without Apparent Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Introduction: There is limited data in the literature regarding the association between hyperlipidemia and heart rate variability (HRV). The aim of the present study is to investigate the association between HRV and hyperlipidemia by retrospectively evaluating the recordings of subjects free of any apparent cardiovascular or systemic disease. Patients and Methods: Medical records of patients to whom 24 hour-Holter recording was performed in our clinic between January 2012 and May 2013 were retrospectively examined. Data of subjects who were determined to be free of any cardiovascular or systemic disease were used in the analysis. Results: Data of 37 subjects were used. There were 20 subjects with hyperlipidemia (10 male, age: 44.5 ± 11.1 years) and 17 subjects with normal lipid profile (5 male, age: 33.4 ± 10.6 years; p= 0.18 for gender and p=0.004 for age). Majority of HRV parameters were found to be significantly depressed in group with hyperlipidemia; however, there were no significant difference between groups regarding prevalence of arrhythmias. Out of components of the lipid profile, linear regression analysis revealed serum triglyceride level to be independently associated variable with RMSSD, PNN50 and LF/HF ratio (in respective order; beta= -0.40, p= 0.02; beta= -0.41, p= 0.012 and beta= -0.31, p= 0.05). Conclusion: Subjects with hyperlipidemia were observed to have significantly depressed HRV compared to subjects with normal lipid profile in our retrospective study. Based on our observations, it may be suggested that patients with hyperlipidemia, in particular with hypertriglyceridemia display higher subtle cardiac sympathetic activity which may be associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.