COMPARISON OF CARDIAC AUTONOMIC ACTIVITY IN PRE- AND POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN USING HEART RATE VARIABILITY

Background - Heart Rate Variability (HRV) has been considered as the most sensitive measure of autonomic function when evaluating sympathovagal balance. It has also been suggested that the effects of estrogen cause parasympathetic dominance in women of reproductive age and sympathetic hyperactivity in postmenopausal women. – The Aim and Objectives aim of the study was to compare the basal cardiovascular parameters and HRV between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Material and Methods – This was a cross-sectional observational study carried out in Dr. Sampurnanand Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. After 15 min of rest, HRV was recorded among 40 premenopausal and 40 postmenopausal women in the supine position for 5 min using AD Instruments, Australia. The frequency domain parameters of HRV were analyzed Heart Rate Variability was assessed by “C Series HRV System – Lab-Chart 8 (MLS310/8, Windows or Mac), ADINSTRUMENTS, Australia. The data were presented as mean (SD). Student's Independent t-test was used to find the statistical difference between the two groups. p-Value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Systolic blood pressure (p = 0.00), Results - pulse pressure (p = 0.00), and HbA1c% (p = 0.00) values were significantly higher in postmenopausal women compared to premenopausal women. HF (nu), an index of parasympathetic activity, was higher among premenopausal women. LF (nu), and LF/HF ratio were higher among both the groups. Our study revealed no significant changes in LF (nu), HF (nu), or the LF/HF ratio b Conclusion – etween the two groups. However, overall pre-menopausal women exhibit higher parasympathetic activity. These findings are may be the result of influence of estrogen, which is greater in premenopausal women than in postmenopausal women,