Research Information System
Koşuyolu Heart Journal, vol.18, no.1, pp.29-33, 2015 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
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 profi le (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 signifi cantly depressed in group with
hyperlipidemia; however, there were no signifi cant difference between groups regarding prevalence of
arrhythmias. Out of components of the lipid profi le, 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 signifi cantly depressed HRV compared to
subjects with normal lipid profi le 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.