Relationship between serum homocysteine levels and heart rate variability in elderly patients with metabolic syndrome / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the relationship between the serum homocysteine(Hcy) level and heart rate variability in elderly patients with metabolic syndrome.Methods Retrospective analysis of 162 elderly patients with metabolic syndrome aged 60 and above was conducted in our hospital from January 2013 to August 2016.And the level of serum homocysteine and other biochemical indicators were measured.The 162 cases were divided into three groups of 42 cases in Hcy normal group(Hcy,5-15 μmol/L),70 cases in Hcy mildly high group(Hcy,16-30 μmol/L),50 cases in Hcy moderately high group (Hcy,31 ～ 100 μmol/L).Simultaneously 24-hour rhythm in ambulatory heart rate variability spectrum was used to detect HRV.And the relationship between heart rate variability(HRV) and Hcy levels were analyzed.Results Normal RR interval standand deviation (SDNN),5 min mean heart rate standard deviation (SDANN),Edinburg index (PNN50),root mean square value of adjacent RR interval difference(RMMSD)were all lower in Hcy mildly high group and Hcy moderately high group than in the Hcy normal group (P＜0.05).Low-frequency(LF) and highfrequency(HF)were lower in Hcy mildly high group and Hcy moderately high group than in the Hcy normal group(P ＜ 0.05).Sympathetic-vagal balance indicators (LF/HF) were higher in Hcy mildly high group and Hcy moderately high group than in the Hcy normal group (P＜ 0.05).The HRV indexes were lower in Hcy high groups than in the Hcy normal group.Hcy was negatively correlated with SDANN,RMSSD,LF,HF,and LF/HF at night(r=-0.578、-0.651、-0.531、-0.662、-0.729,all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The elevated homocysteine level and metabolic syndromecombined with decreased HRV in the elderly patients suggest that cardiac autonomic nervous system might be injuried.Enhancing the detection of HRV and homocysteine level in elderly patients with MS is clinically useful for early detection of autonomic neuropathy.