Correlation of autonomic function tests with age, sex, anthropometry, and body composition in sedentary office workers

Abstract

Background: Sedentary lifestyle leads to autonomic dysfunction with sympathetic hyperactivity, which leads to increased morbidity. Aims and Objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the relationship of autonomic function tests with age, sex, and anthropometric measurements in sedentary workers. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 50 healthy sedentary office workers aged between 20 and 50 years. Their anthropometric and parameters of body composition were calculated. Autonomic functions were assessed by the recording of frequency domain parameters of heart rate variability (HRV). Results: Among the HRV parameters, the mean low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF) LF/HF ratio, and total power were 453 ± 428 ms², 406 ± 612 ms², 2.15 ± 2.64, and 1432 ± 1238 ms², respectively. There was no significant difference in HRV parameters of male and female subjects (P > 0.05). HF, LF, and LF/HF ratio decreased significantly with age (r = −0.422; P = 0.032). No significant correlation was found between HRV parameters and anthropometric parameters (P > 0.05). Among the parameters of body composition, specifically in case of fat-free mass, the LF/HF ratio was significantly increased (r = 0.582, P = 0.001). Conclusion: Aging process causes a decrease in HRV. As the weight increases, LF/HF ratio increases indicating increased sympathetic activity.