TY - JOUR
T1 - Is reduced heart rate variability associated with functional somatic disorders?
T2 - A cross-sectional population-based study; DanFunD
AU - Jørgensen, Torben
AU - Dantoft, Thomas Meinertz
AU - Petersen, Marie Weinreich
AU - Gormsen, Lise
AU - Winter-Jensen, Matilde
AU - Fink, Per
AU - Linneberg, Allan
AU - Benros, Michael Eriksen
AU - Eplov, Lene Falgaard
AU - Bjerregaard, Anne Ahrendt
AU - Schovsbo, Signe Ulfbeck
AU - Brinth, Louise Schouborg
N1 - © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
PY - 2024/2/7
Y1 - 2024/2/7
N2 - OBJECTIVES: It has been hypothesised that functional somatic disorders (FSD) could be initiated by sympathetic predominance in the autonomic nervous system as measured by low heart rate variability (HRV). Earlier studies on the association between HRV and FSD are small case-control studies hampered by selection bias and do not consider the great overlap between the various FSDs. The aim of the present study is to assess any associations between HRV and various FSDs and whether chronic stress confounds such an association.DESIGN: A cross-sectional general population-based study.SETTING: The Danish Study of Functional Somatic Disorders conducted 2013-2015 in 10 municipalities in the western part of Greater Copenhagen, Denmark.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 6891 men and women aged 18-72 years were included in the analyses after exclusion of 602 persons with missing HRV data. Various delimitations of FSD (chronic fatigue, chronic widespread pain, irritable bowel and bodily distress syndrome) were identified by validated questionnaires and diagnostic interviews. HRV parameters in time and frequency domains were calculated from successive beat-to-beat heart rate (HR) data using the 'E-motion' HR monitor device during 7 min of supine rest. Chronic stress was assessed by Cohen's self-perceived stress scale.OUTCOME MEASURES: Logistic regression analyses were used to calculate possible associations between the various delimitations of FSD and HRV adjusting for chronic stress.RESULTS: Persons with FSD had a slightly higher mean HR and lower HRV as measured by time domain parameters, whereas associations with frequency domain parameters were not consistent. Adjusting for chronic stress attenuated associations slightly.CONCLUSION: The study supports a sympathetic predominance in persons with FSD, which could not be entirely explained by chronic stress. However, it is not possible to conclude whether the association is a causal factor to or a consequence of FSD.
AB - OBJECTIVES: It has been hypothesised that functional somatic disorders (FSD) could be initiated by sympathetic predominance in the autonomic nervous system as measured by low heart rate variability (HRV). Earlier studies on the association between HRV and FSD are small case-control studies hampered by selection bias and do not consider the great overlap between the various FSDs. The aim of the present study is to assess any associations between HRV and various FSDs and whether chronic stress confounds such an association.DESIGN: A cross-sectional general population-based study.SETTING: The Danish Study of Functional Somatic Disorders conducted 2013-2015 in 10 municipalities in the western part of Greater Copenhagen, Denmark.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 6891 men and women aged 18-72 years were included in the analyses after exclusion of 602 persons with missing HRV data. Various delimitations of FSD (chronic fatigue, chronic widespread pain, irritable bowel and bodily distress syndrome) were identified by validated questionnaires and diagnostic interviews. HRV parameters in time and frequency domains were calculated from successive beat-to-beat heart rate (HR) data using the 'E-motion' HR monitor device during 7 min of supine rest. Chronic stress was assessed by Cohen's self-perceived stress scale.OUTCOME MEASURES: Logistic regression analyses were used to calculate possible associations between the various delimitations of FSD and HRV adjusting for chronic stress.RESULTS: Persons with FSD had a slightly higher mean HR and lower HRV as measured by time domain parameters, whereas associations with frequency domain parameters were not consistent. Adjusting for chronic stress attenuated associations slightly.CONCLUSION: The study supports a sympathetic predominance in persons with FSD, which could not be entirely explained by chronic stress. However, it is not possible to conclude whether the association is a causal factor to or a consequence of FSD.
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Female
KW - Heart Rate/physiology
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Self Report
KW - Autonomic Nervous System
KW - Psychological Tests
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85184683050&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073909
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073909
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 38326244
SN - 2044-6055
VL - 14
SP - e073909
JO - BMJ Open
JF - BMJ Open
IS - 2
M1 - e073909
ER -