Research article summary (published 27 Feb 2001):

Heart rate variability in adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available regarding the onset or trajectory of cardiovascular autonomic deterioration in persons with type 1 diabetes. OBJECTIVE: To describe differences in heart rate variability among adolescents with type 1 diabetes, adults with type 1 diabetes who have coexisting renal failure, and adolescent and adult controls. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A correlational design was used to compare the status of heart rate variability in adults with type 1 diabetes and renal failure (n = 62); healthy adult controls (n = 67); adolescents with type 1 diabetes (n = 55); and healthy adolescent controls (n = 28). Convenience samples of adult patients with diabetes awaiting kidney or pancreas and kidney transplantation, and adolescents with diabetes were recruited from local university-based clinics. Volunteers served as healthy controls. The short-term R-R variability measures included in this study were changes in heart rate with deep breathing and with the Valsalva maneuver. Twenty-four hour ambulatory heart rate monitoring with power spectral analysis was also obtained to assess longterm R-R variability. RESULTS: Adult patients with type 1 diabetes awaiting transplantation had significantly poorer heart rate variability measures than any of the other three populations studied (p < .0001). Adult control values also were significantly lower than either teenage controls or youths with diabetes (p < .05). Although most long-term R-R variability measures were lower in adolescents with diabetes versus controls, only one measure of parasympathetic modulation (i.e., pNN50) was significantly lower (p = .042). There were significant negative associations between HbA1c and sympathetic modulation (i.e., low hertz) in both the adult group (r= -.406, p = .029) and the adolescent group (r= -.324, p = .025) with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Type 1 diabetes is associated with decreased heart rate variability, with the extent of the decrease related to the age of the individual and the severity of the disease.

Author information

Author/s: Faulkner, M S (MS); Hathaway, D K (DK); Milstead, E J (EJ); Burghen, G A (GA);

Affiliation: College of Nursing, Department of Maternal and Child Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60612-7350, USA. melissaf(-atsign-)uic.edu

Grants: K08 NR00075 (Agency:NINR NIH HHS) ; R01 NR03871 (Agency:NINR NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Nursing research (Nurs Res), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2001 Mar-Apr; vol 50 (issue 2) : pp 95-104

Dates: Created 2001/04/13; Completed 2001/05/03; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 11302298, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

ErratumIn: Nurs Res 2001 May-Jun;50(3):146.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent Adult Age Distribution Analysis of Variance Autonomic Nervous System Diseases - diagnosis; epidemiology; etiology; physiopathology Autonomic Pathways - physiopathology Case-Control Studies Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - complications Diabetic Neuropathies - diagnosis; epidemiology; etiology; physiopathology Electrocardiography, Ambulatory

Electrocardiography, Ambulatory Female Heart Diseases - diagnosis; epidemiology; etiology; physiopathology Heart Rate Humans Kidney Failure, Chronic - complications Male Sex Distribution Time Factors Valsalva Maneuver

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