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

Y1 - 2024

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

U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073909

DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073909

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38326244

VL - 14

JO - BMJ Open

JF - BMJ Open

SN - 2044-6055

IS - 2

M1 - e073909

ER -