A simple version of resting‐state heart rate variability interpretation for patients with affective disorders: A four‐pattern perspective

Abstract

Abstract Heart rate variability (HRV) is often considered as a biomarker reflecting well‐being, but the clinical meaning of short‐term resting‐state HRV is not sufficiently defined. We assume that combining several common HRV indices as “HRV patterns” and using the patterns for screening purposes are meaningful approaches. Resting‐state 5‐min HRV data of 424 subjects were analyzed. Four of the most commonly used HRV indices were considered: standard deviation of normal–to–normal RR intervals, low‐frequency power, high‐frequency power and the ratio of low‐frequency to high‐frequency power. According to these indices, four HRV patterns were defined: normal pattern, low HRV pattern, relatively high sympathetic pattern, and relatively high vagal pattern. The associations between the demographics, lifestyles, personality traits, psychological states, and HRV patterns were explored: the low HRV pattern was positively associated with age, body mass index, and depression; the relatively high sympathetic pattern was positively associated with age and negatively associated with exercise habit; and the relatively high vagal pattern was negatively associated with having a steady job and novelty seeking. The pattern perspective may provide a convenient and evidence‐based way to interpret resting‐state HRV for patients with affective disorders.

Keywords

• affective disorders
• autonomic nervous system
• depression
• heart rate variability
• personality