Twenty-four-hour heart rate variability to assess autonomic function in Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease patients by means of a 24-h heart rate variability (HRV) method.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Thirteen patients with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease were compared with 13 age-matched healthy persons (control group). The 13 patients had a mean age of 70.5 years, and mean disease duration of 10.9 years. The autonomic function was evaluated by HRV analysis using a continuous 24-h ECG. The parameters of SDNN (standard deviation of the normal-to-normal intervals between adjacent QRS complexes), of LF (power in low frequency) and of HF (power in high frequency) were studied during the following 3 periods: 24 h, night and day.

RESULTS

The data show a statistically significant difference between groups for SDNN and LF in all the periods, while for HF parameters the difference is statistically significant only in the night period.

CONCLUSION

The use of the 24-h HRV method can provide more accurate and reproducible data than other conventional cardiovascular tests.