Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the relationship between high-frequency heart rate variability (HF HRV) and continuous daytime sitting time in patients with cardiovascular risk factors such as mild hypertension and/or stable angina pectoris. Decreased HF HRV precedes the progression and worsening of cardiovascular diseases. Continuous sitting behavior is a major risk factor for developing metabolic syndrome and is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, sarcopenia and osteoporosis. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease can be affected by continuous daytime sitting behaviors. The present study design was a post-hoc comparison. Patients treated at two different primary care clinics from 2014 to 2018 were enrolled in this study (n = 53). We assessed HF HRV and continuous sitting time using 24-hour Holter electrocardiography and an activity meter at baseline and 6 months. HF HRV was calculated during sleep. Sitting time had decreased in 22 patients (decreased group) and increased in 31 patients (increased group) after 6 months. The mean patient ages were 73.1 and 72.0 years in the decreased and increased sitting time groups, respectively (p = 0.503). HF HRV during sleep had increased after 6 months in the decreased sitting time group. Compared with the increased group, the decreased group showed significantly higher HF HRV during sleep after 6 months by two-way repeated-measures ANOVA after adjustment for age, sex and change in activity (p = 0.045). These results suggest that a decrease in sitting time might induce parasympathetic activity during sleep. Therefore, reducing continuous sitting time during the day might contribute, in part, to improving the prognosis of patients with cardiovascular risk factors not only by avoiding muscle loss but also by providing positive influences on parasympathetic tone during sleep.
Highlights
Heart rate variability (HRV) has been analyzed using the normal R-R waveform on electrocardiography and applied to a wide range of conditions, including cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes [1, 2]
Sitting time had decreased in 22 patients and increased in 31 patients after 6 months
high-frequency heart rate variability (HF HRV) during sleep had increased after 6 months in the decreased sitting time group
Summary
Heart rate variability (HRV) has been analyzed using the normal R-R waveform on electrocardiography and applied to a wide range of conditions, including cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes [1, 2]. It has been reported that low physical activity levels and sedentary lifestyles that involve sitting for a long period of time increase the risk of plaque formation and subsequent stenosis in patients with atherosclerosis [13, 14]. In a study of blue-collar workers, more sitting time during leisure time tended to decrease HRV, and more standing time at work increased HF HRV [18] These previous studies have suggested that risk factors for cardiovascular disease are likely affected by lifestyle habits in senior citizens and workers who often remain seated. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease can be affected by continuous daytime sitting behaviors
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