Power Spectral Analysis of Heart Rate Variability in HIV-Infected and AIDS Patients

• Published in: Pacing and clinical electrophysiology Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 53 - 58
• Main Authors: CORREIA, DALMO, RODRIGUES DE RESENDE, LUIZ ANTONIO PERTILLI, MOLINA, RODRIGO JULIANO, FERREIRA, BRUNO DORIGUETTO COUTO, COLOMBARI, FERNANDO, BARBOSA, CARLOS JOSÉ DORNAS G., DA SILVA, VALDO JOSÉ DIAS, PRATA, ALUÍZIO
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 350 Main Street , Malden , MA 02148-5018 , USA and 9600 Garsington Road , Oxford OX4 2DQ , UK Blackwell Science Inc 01.01.2006
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - drug therapy; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - physiopathology; Adult; Algorithms; Analysis of Variance; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; autonomic function; Autonomic Nervous System - physiopathology; Chi-Square Distribution; Cross-Sectional Studies; Electrocardiography; Female; HAART; Heart Rate - physiology; heart rate variability; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - physiopathology; HIV/AIDS; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Male; spectral analysis; Tilt-Table Test
• ISSN: 0147-8389; 1540-8159
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.2006.00297.x

Background: In HIV‐infected patients the risks for cardiovascular disease are multifactorial. Autonomic dysfunction has been detected in the early phase of HIV infection as well as in AIDS patients with advanced cardiomyopathy. Methods: Forty AIDS patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), 40 HIV+ naïve of HAART, and 40 control subjects were studied. Computerized analysis of heart rate variability was performed using an analog to digital converter. R‐R intervals were obtained from a standard ECG, recorded in DII lead in supine rest and after the cold‐face and tilt tests. The series of R‐R intervals were assessed in time and frequency domains using an autoregressive algorithm. Results: There was no difference regarding to mean values of R‐R intervals and variance in baseline. The normalized power of the low‐frequency (LF) component and the low‐frequency/high‐frequency (HF) ratio (LF/HF) was significantly decreased in the HIV group. Responses of normalized HF and LF/HF ratio during the cold‐face test were significantly decreased in the HIV group, as compared to the control. During the tilt test, a higher augmentation of normalized LF and the LF/HF ratio was observed in the HIV group compared with the control. The AIDS group was similar to the control in baseline and after cold‐face and tilt tests. Conclusion: The HIV group presented in baseline conditions, a shift of cardiac sympathovagal balance, an exacerbated response of the LF component during the tilt test, and an ineffective cardiac vagal response to the cold‐face test suggesting sympathetic and parasympathetic dysfunction. AIDS patients receiving HAART did not present these autonomic alterations.