Comparison of Frequency Domain Parameters of Heart Rate Variability Between Women with Polycystic Ovarian Disease and Apparently Healthy Women

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients shows common features like increased insulin resistance and adiposity, which have been known to correlate with sympathetic hyperactivity.

Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the characteristics of heart rate variability in women with PCOS. To compare frequency domain parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) between women with PCOS and apparently healthy women. To study the impact of cardiometabolic parameters such as BMI and blood pressure on frequency-domain HRV parameters.

Methods: A total of 30 women with PCOS aged 20 to 40 years (as per Rotterdam criteria) were enrolled as cases and 30 age-matched women having normal ovulatory cycles were enrolled as controls. HRV was recorded using an electrocardiography machine (ECG) machine. The following frequency-domain parameters were assessed: Total power, Very low frequency (VLF), VLF%, Low Frequency (LF), LF%, LF nu, High frequency (HF), HF%, HF nu, LF/HF ratio, short-term variability (SD1), and long-term variability (SD2), respectively.

Results: Mean age of cases was 28.03 ± 5.33 years. Mean BMI of PCOS women was 25.39 ± 2.69 kg/m. A total of 18 (60%) had BMI >25 kg/m. Cases had significantly higher BMI, waist hip ratio, and blood pressure as compared with controls. None of the controls had BMI >25 kg/m. Majority of cases (66.7%) had systolic blood pressure/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) >130/85 mmHg as compared with only 6 (20%) of controls ( < 0.001). For different frequency domain parameters, no statistically significant difference between two groups was observed for VLF and LF. Mean VLF%, LF%, LF (nu), and LF/HF were significantly higher in cases as compared with controls. For all, the other mean value was significantly lower in cases as compared with that of controls ( < 0.05).

Conclusions: Autonomic nervous system is affected by PCOS status of women, and sympathetic hyperactivity is seen.