Author/Authors :
Frigy, Attila Department of Internal Medicine IV - University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tırgu Mures - Tırgu Mures, Romania , Magdás, Annamária Department of Internal Medicine IV - University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tırgu Mures - Tırgu Mures, Romania , Moga, Victor-Dan Department of Cardiology I - Victor Babes - University of Medicine and Pharmacy - Timis,oara - Timis,ioara, Romania , Georgiana Cotet, Ioana Department of Cardiology I - Victor Babes - University of Medicine and Pharmacy - Timis,oara - Timis,ioara, Romania , Kozlovszky, Miklós Obuda University - Budapest, Hungary , Szilágyi, László Faculty of Technical and Human Sciences - Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania - Tırgu Mures, Romania
Abstract :
The possible effect of blood pressure measurements per se on heart rate variability (HRV) was studied in the setting
of concomitant ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and Holter ECG monitoring (HM). Methods. In 25 hypertensive
patients (14 women and 11 men, mean age: 58.1 years), 24-hour combined ABPM and HM were performed. For every blood pressure
measurement, 2-minute ECG segments (before, during, and after measurement) were analyzed to obtain time domain parameters
of HRV: SDNN and rMSSD. Mean of normal RR intervals (MNN), SDNN/MNN, and rMSSD/MNN were calculated, too. Parameter
variations related to blood pressure measurements were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with multiple comparisons. Results. 2281
measurements (1518 during the day and 763 during the night) were included in the analysis. Both SDNN and SDNN/MNN had
a constant (the same for 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime values) and significant change related to blood pressure measurements:
an increase during measurements and a decrease after them (𝑝 < 0.01 for any variation). Conclusion. In the setting of combined
ABPM and HM, the blood pressure measurement itself produces an increase in short-term heart rate variability. Clarifying the
physiological basis and the possible clinical value of this phenomenon needs further studies.
