Heart rate variability in patients with stable ischemic heart disease depending on depressive symptoms

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate HRV parameters derived from Holter electrocardiogram monitoring (Holter-ECG) in patients with stable CAD according to the presence of depressive symptoms, and to analyze differences in these parameters depending on the management strategy for CAD. Materials and methods: the study included 89 patients with stable CAD, functional class II–III (n=89), of whom 45 were assigned to a surgical treatment group and 44 to a conservative treatment group. Results: based on psychometric testing results, both groups were further stratified according to the presence or absence of depressive symptoms. Conclusions: the presence of depressive symptoms was associated with reduced rMSSD and pNN50 values. Furthermore, among patients with depressive symptoms, SDNNi and pNN50 parameters were significantly lower in individuals hospitalized for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stenting compared to those managed conservatively. Depressive symptoms in patients with stable CAD are associated with impaired time-domain HRV parameters, particularly reflecting parasympathetic modulation.