Altered fractal behavior and heart rate variability in daily life in neurally mediated syncope

Abstract

Autonomic imbalance is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of neurally mediated syncope (NMS). Heart rate variability (HRV) indices and fractal dimension derived from 24 h ambulatory electrocardiogram (AECG) reflects the cardiac autonomic activity and provides useful information for understanding the pathogenesis of NMS. In this study, we sought the cardiac autonomic activity and the status of fractal dimension in daily life in patients with NMS. The 24 h ambulatory ECG recordings were performed in 36 NMS patients (NMS group) and in 11 healthy volunteers (CTRL group). Six time domain and frequency domain HRV indices were calculated. The regression of log (power) on log (frequency) was also calculated and the slope of the regression line ( β) was analyzed in three different periods such as total 24 h, awake and sleep phases. The values of mean RR, SDNN and SDANN were not significantly different, but the values of S.D. index, rMSSD, pNN50 and all the frequency domain HRV indices were significantly higher in NMS group than in CTRL group. For 24–h period, there was no significant difference in the values of β. For awake phase, the value of β was significantly higher in NMS group than in CTRL group. For sleep phase, the value of β was significantly lower in NMS group than in CTRL group. Augmented autonomic activity and the deterioration of fractal dimension in daily life might contribute to the pathogenesis of NMS.