Heart rate variability, a potential assessment tool for identifying anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders in elderly individuals

IntroductionThis study investigates how anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders impact heart rate variability (HRV) in the elderly, exploring the clinical implications of HRV changes.MethodsWe examined 355 patients (163 men, 192 women) at Xijing Hospital from July 2021 to December 2022 during healt...

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Main Authors: Wenna Liu, Shutong Wang, Hanyang Gu, Rong Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1485183/full
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author Wenna Liu
Shutong Wang
Hanyang Gu
Rong Li
author_facet Wenna Liu
Shutong Wang
Hanyang Gu
Rong Li
author_sort Wenna Liu
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThis study investigates how anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders impact heart rate variability (HRV) in the elderly, exploring the clinical implications of HRV changes.MethodsWe examined 355 patients (163 men, 192 women) at Xijing Hospital from July 2021 to December 2022 during health check-ups. Demographics were recorded, and emotional status was assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale (PSQI) evaluated sleep quality. Patients were categorized into groups A-G based on the presence of emotional states and sleep disorders. HRV indices—SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD, PNN50, LF/HF, LF, and HF—were analyzed using ANOVA and multivariate logistic regression.ResultsNo statistically significant differences were observed in demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors across the eight groups. Variables assessed included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood lipids, blood pressure, heart rate, and histories of smoking and alcohol consumption. Additionally, the presence of hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, marital status, income, and education level were evaluated, with all showing equivalence (P > 0.05). Significant differences in HRV indices were observed across groups, particularly in group G (patients with anxiety, depression and sleep disorders), which showed decreased HRV parameters except LF/HF, and group H (control group), which showed increased parameters, also except LF/HF (P < 0.01). Anxiety was an independent risk factor for reduced SDNN, SDANN, and LF (P ≤ 0.01), and increased LF/HF ratio (P < 0.01). Depression was linked to decreased SDNN, RMSSD, PNN50, and HF (P < 0.05). Sleep disorders independently predicted reduced PNN50 and SDANN (P < 0.01).ConclusionHRV indices of individuals with varying emotional states and sleep disorders exhibited varying degrees of decrease. Anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders presented a superimposed effect on HRV. SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD, PNN50, HF and LF of HRV are of great reference value in the diagnosis of emotional and sleep disorders. For elderly patients experiencing cognitive impairment, HRV is anticipated to serve as a convenient and effective tool for assessing mood and sleep disorders.
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spelling doaj-art-f3f3c28d306246d1b7e4630a440d8b9f2025-01-23T06:56:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-01-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.14851831485183Heart rate variability, a potential assessment tool for identifying anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders in elderly individualsWenna LiuShutong WangHanyang GuRong LiIntroductionThis study investigates how anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders impact heart rate variability (HRV) in the elderly, exploring the clinical implications of HRV changes.MethodsWe examined 355 patients (163 men, 192 women) at Xijing Hospital from July 2021 to December 2022 during health check-ups. Demographics were recorded, and emotional status was assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale (PSQI) evaluated sleep quality. Patients were categorized into groups A-G based on the presence of emotional states and sleep disorders. HRV indices—SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD, PNN50, LF/HF, LF, and HF—were analyzed using ANOVA and multivariate logistic regression.ResultsNo statistically significant differences were observed in demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors across the eight groups. Variables assessed included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood lipids, blood pressure, heart rate, and histories of smoking and alcohol consumption. Additionally, the presence of hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, marital status, income, and education level were evaluated, with all showing equivalence (P > 0.05). Significant differences in HRV indices were observed across groups, particularly in group G (patients with anxiety, depression and sleep disorders), which showed decreased HRV parameters except LF/HF, and group H (control group), which showed increased parameters, also except LF/HF (P < 0.01). Anxiety was an independent risk factor for reduced SDNN, SDANN, and LF (P ≤ 0.01), and increased LF/HF ratio (P < 0.01). Depression was linked to decreased SDNN, RMSSD, PNN50, and HF (P < 0.05). Sleep disorders independently predicted reduced PNN50 and SDANN (P < 0.01).ConclusionHRV indices of individuals with varying emotional states and sleep disorders exhibited varying degrees of decrease. Anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders presented a superimposed effect on HRV. SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD, PNN50, HF and LF of HRV are of great reference value in the diagnosis of emotional and sleep disorders. For elderly patients experiencing cognitive impairment, HRV is anticipated to serve as a convenient and effective tool for assessing mood and sleep disorders.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1485183/fullanxietydepressionsleep disordersheart rate variabilityelderly individuals
spellingShingle Wenna Liu
Shutong Wang
Hanyang Gu
Rong Li
Heart rate variability, a potential assessment tool for identifying anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders in elderly individuals
Frontiers in Psychiatry
anxiety
depression
sleep disorders
heart rate variability
elderly individuals
title Heart rate variability, a potential assessment tool for identifying anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders in elderly individuals
title_full Heart rate variability, a potential assessment tool for identifying anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders in elderly individuals
title_fullStr Heart rate variability, a potential assessment tool for identifying anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders in elderly individuals
title_full_unstemmed Heart rate variability, a potential assessment tool for identifying anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders in elderly individuals
title_short Heart rate variability, a potential assessment tool for identifying anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders in elderly individuals
title_sort heart rate variability a potential assessment tool for identifying anxiety depression and sleep disorders in elderly individuals
topic anxiety
depression
sleep disorders
heart rate variability
elderly individuals
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1485183/full
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AT shutongwang heartratevariabilityapotentialassessmenttoolforidentifyinganxietydepressionandsleepdisordersinelderlyindividuals
AT hanyanggu heartratevariabilityapotentialassessmenttoolforidentifyinganxietydepressionandsleepdisordersinelderlyindividuals
AT rongli heartratevariabilityapotentialassessmenttoolforidentifyinganxietydepressionandsleepdisordersinelderlyindividuals