A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF BODY MASS INDEX ON SYMPATHOVAGAL ACTIVITIES IN HYPERTENSIVE INDIVIDUALS

Abstract

The rising rates of obesity and hypertension can be traced to a combination of factors including decreased physical activity, increased psychological stress, and increased work-related stress. Sympathetic overactivity is the primary pathophysiologic process in the development of obesity and hypertension, regardless of origin. Many clinical diseases can be traced back to a sympathovagal imbalance, or disruption of autonomic functioning due to sympathetic excess activity and vagal withdrawal. Autonomic dysfunction has been linked to obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus separately. The measurement of heart rate variability (HRV) has become a popular, non-invasive method for studying cardiac autonomic dysfunction quantitatively. The current research sought to answer the question of whether obesity contributes to the worsening of autonomic dysfunction, especially in hypertensive individuals. Adult males and females in their forties and fifties who were patients at the OPD in UPUMS, Saifai, Etawah, India, were enlisted for the study.HRV was measured using the one-minute method while the subjects were in a relaxed state and deep breathing was encouraged. A total of 105 participants were divided into Groups I (obese hypertensive), II (non-obesity hypertension), and III (non-obese normotensive, control). The mean heart rate variability (HRV) of obese hypertension patients was considerably lower than that of non-obese hypertensive patients (p<0.005 at α 0.05 HRV, data provided as Mean± SD inferential statistics by One Way ANOVA and Tukeys Post Hoc test). Our findings suggest that obesity and hypertension may have an additive effect in inducing autonomic dysfunction.