2023, Volume 29, Issue 4
REFERENCE VALUES OF HEART RATE VARIABILITY IN YOUNG, HEALTHY ADULTS
EWELINA ZAWADZKA-BARTCZAK1, LECH KOPKA2
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1Department of Internal Disease, Cardiology and Metabolic Disorders, Military Institute of Aviation Medicine
2Military Institute of Aviation Medicine
Autor korenspondencyjny: EWELINA ZAWADZKA-BARTCZAK; Department of Internal Disease, Cardiology and Metabolic Disorders, Military Institute of Aviation Medicine; email: e.zawadzka@wiml.waw.pl
Streszczenie
Introduction: The aim of this study was to establish age-specific reference distributions for 24-h heart rate variability (HRV) in clinically healthy young adults and to characterize sex- and diurnal-related differences, as well as the relationship between HRV and heart rate (HR).
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 300 clinically healthy, carefully screened, medication-free candidates for admission to a military aviation academy (198 men, 102 women; 18-22 years) underwent 24-h Holter electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring. Time-domain and frequency-domain HRV indices were computed for the full 24-h recording and for predefined daytime and night-time segments. Descriptive statistics, sex comparisons, and associations between HRV and HR were calculated.
Results: Women showed a higher 24-h mean heart rate than men (median 76 vs 73 bpm). Men demonstrated greater global variability in time-domain indices, including SDNN (193 vs 137 ms) and total power (TP) (6450.2 vs 3528.4 ms²). In the frequency domain, 24-h HF power was higher in men (1482.2 vs 1150.3ms²), whereas nighttime HF power was higher in women (2443.3 vs 2174.3 ms²). The LF/HF ratio was higher in men (1.84 vs 1.68).
Conclusions: The present study defines sex-specific, percentile-based reference intervals for 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime HRV indices in healthy young adults. These data provide a physiologically grounded normative framework for clinical and research interpretation of HRV in early adulthood.
Słowa kluczowe
Heart Rate Variability, reference values, autonomic nervous system, electrocardiography, young adult, sex factors