The Effect Of Resting-reactivity Cardiovagal Modulation On Heart Rate Recovery In Individuals With A Common Mental Disorder

PURPOSE: Common mental disorders can reduce cardiac autonomic modulation. Resting-reactivity cardiovagal modulation and post-exercise heart rate recovery (HRR) are powerful independent predictors of cardiovascular morbimortality risk. Even though resting-reactivity cardiovagal modulation and HRR are independent measures of cardiac autonomic adjustments, several studies have examined their relationship because they seem promising clinical-functional evaluations of cardiac autonomic integrity and general health. Objective: To verify the effect of resting-reactivity cardiovagal modulation on HRR following maximal exercise testing in individuals with common mental disorders. METHOD: The present study evaluated sixteen (n = 16; 8 men and 8 women) individuals aged 25.3 (± 6.4) years and with a BMI of 23.4 (± 2.4) kg/m2 diagnosed with the mental disorder without comorbidities. The cardiovagal index of heart rate variability (rMSSD) at resting (supine and orthostatic positions) and its reactivity after the orthostatic stress test were recorded using an electrocardiogram. HRR was recorded in the 1st minute following a maximal exercise test. Statistical analysis employed a Generalized Linear Model (GzLM) adjusted for age and BMI. The significance level was set at 0.05. RESULTS: We found that for every increase of 15 ms at rest supine position reduces 1 bpm of HRR [β = -0.07; CI 95% (-0.14 to -0.02); R2 = 58%; p < 0.01] and for every reduction of 12.5 after the orthostatic stress test (reactivation) increases 1 bpm of HRR [β = 0.08; CI 95% (0.02 to 0.14); R2 = 63%; p < 0.01]. CONCLUSION: Even though resting-reactivity cardiovagal modulation and HRR at 1st minute are independent predictors of cardiovascular morbimortality risk, HRR can be explained by resting-reactivity cardiovagal modulation from 58 to 63%. Therefore, resting-reactivity cardiovagal modulation is a determinant of HRR in the 1st minute and may be used as a proxy to understand the HRR dynamic in individuals with common mental disorders. Supported by: We would like to thank the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development - CNPq (Universal 2023), and the Federal District Research Support Foundation - FAP-DF (09/2023) for the financial support to carry out this research project.