1Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai
2Professor, Department of Physiology, Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai
3Senior Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai
4Professor & HOD, Department of Physiology, Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai
*Corresponding Author: D. Celine, Professor, Department of Physiology, Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai. Email: celine_suresh72@yahoo.com
Online published on 25 July, 2019.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is the most common chronic systemic inflammatory polyarthritis. The most common extra articular complication is the cardiovascular system involvement. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a noninvasive tool for assessing cardiovascular autonomic function. In our study, we assessed the cardiovascular autonomic function in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis individuals by using short term Heart Rate Variability (HRV) analysis.
It was a cross sectional study. Study group consisted of 40 newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis individuals from Rheumatology outpatient department, Stanley Medical College. Age and sex matched 40 healthy subjects were selected as controls. HRV parameters were recorded by using RMS polyrite version 2.2 D hardware.
Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS version 17. Independent t test was done to compare the groups.
The comparison of the mean Heart Rate (HR) showed a statistically significant increase in the study group (79.55±7.78) than the control group (70.83±7.52). The systolic blood pressure (SBP)was significantly increased in the study group (118.3± 7.1) than the control group (108.3 ± 10.1). There was a significant reduction of SDNN in the study group (24.97±8.9) than the control group (51.64± 25.35). There was a significant reduction in RMSSD in the study group (22.92±12.77) than the control group(55.73± 33.44). The LF power(64.74± 20.87) and the LF/HF ratio (2.79± 2.33) were increased in the study group than the control group (52.02± 14.68), (1.04±0.66). The HF power was decreased in the study group (34.39±19.38) than the controlgroup (45.94± 14.68).
We observed that there was sympathetic overactivity and reduced parasympathetic activity in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis individuals. Thus assessment of autonomic functions by HRV analysis helps in early diagnosis and prompt intervention of cardiovascular complication in RA patients.
Rheumatoid arthritis, Autonomic function, Heart rate variability
