Central column failure is a predominant seismic damage mode in subway station structures. During seismic events, the central columns’ vertical compressive force, as indicated by the axial compression ratio (ACR), undergoes continuous variations, significantly impacting both their failure modes and the seismic performance. This study involved establishing a finite element model of a subway station and conducting time history analyses to identify the distinct variation patterns of ACR in central columns for various seismic design scenarios. Based on these summarized patterns, appropriate ACR variations were designed for the columns, and the validity of the column model was confirmed using experimental data, enabling analyses of their failure modes and hysteresis characteristics under cyclic loads. Lastly, a sensitivity analysis of the parameters associated with the central columns was performed. The results demonstrated that the horizontal displacement and the ACR of the top of the central column were asynchronous, the frequency of the latter was 1.4–3.8 times that of the former, and the amplitude of the ACR was 0.08–0.68. When the frequency of the variable ACR was odd times, the damage and hysteresis curve of the column showed obvious asymmetry and harmfulness, and it exacerbated the damage to the core concrete of the column. Compared to applying a constant ACR, the bearing capacity and energy dissipation of the column were even reduced by about 50 % and 74 %, respectively. The specimens with the upper limit value of 0.95 of variable ACR had even more adverse effects on the damage and hysteresis behavior of the column than the scheme with a constant ACR of 0.95. In addition, the even multiple frequency of variable ACR had a limited effect on the seismic performance of the column, but the harm caused by the large amplitude variation of variable ACR could not be ignored. As to the impacts of structural parameters under cyclic loadings, elevating the longitudinal reinforcement ratio and decreasing the stirrup spacing within the central columns would substantially enhance energy dissipation capacity, with a maximum increase of about 69 %. Meanwhile, for columns with the same cross-sectional area, square columns exhibited superior hysteresis behavior compared to their circular counterparts. The findings of this study could provide guidance for the engineering design of the central columns.