Publication details
Intra-Individual Relationship between Heart Rate Variability and the Underlying Heart Rate in Children and Adolescents
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/10/2897 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jcm13102897 |
| Keywords | paediatric population; heart rate variability; heart rate; regression slope; age; sympatho-vagal balance |
| Description | Background/Objective: The relationship between heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) indices has been repeatedly studied in adults but limited data are available on the relationship in paediatric populations. Methods: Continuous 12-lead electrocardiograms were recorded in 1016 healthy children and adolescents (534 females) aged 4 to 19 years during postural manoeuvres with rapid changes between 10-min positions of supine -> sitting -> standing -> supine -> standing -> sitting -> supine. In each position, the averaged RR interval was measured together with four HRV indices, namely the SDNN, RMSSD, quasi-normalised high-frequency components (qnHF), and the proportions of low- and high-frequency components (LF/HF). In each subject, the slope of the linear regression between the repeated HRV measurements and the corresponding RR interval averages was calculated. Results: The intra-subject regression slopes, including their confidence intervals, were related to the age and sex of the subjects. The SDNN/RR, RMSSD/RR, and qnHF/RR slopes were significantly steeper (p < 0.001) and the (LF/HF)/RR slopes were significantly shallower (p < 0.001) in younger children compared to older children and adolescents. Conclusions: The study suggests that sympathetic and vagal influences on heart rate are present in both younger and older children. With advancing age, the sympatho-vagal balance gradually develops and allows the vagal control to suppress the sympathetic drive towards higher heart rates seen in younger age children. |