Heart rate variability and hematological parameters in pregnant women.

Background: There are few researches on hematological parameters (hemoglobin, red cell distribution width [RDW], white blood cells [WBCs], mean platelets volume [MPV], and heart rate variability [HRV]). There are no published data on this concept (HRV and hematological parameters) during pregnancy.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Saad Abul Ela hospital in Khartoum, Sudan during the period of July to August 2018. Pregnant women with singleton, a live baby, were enrolled in this study. Clinical history and examination were performed. HRV (autonomic modulation) was assessed using time and frequency domain HRV indices.

Results: One hundred and five pregnant women were enrolled. The median (quartile) of the age, parity, and gestational age was 30.0 (25.0-35.0) years, 1.0 (0-3.0), and 38.0 (32.0-39.0) weeks, respectively. While there were positive correlations between hemoglobin and low frequency (LF), RDW and high frequency (HF), WBCs and HF Norm, WBCs and LF/HF, MPV and HF Norm, LF Norm and LF/HF, there was no significant correlation between the hematological (hemoglobin, WBCs, RDW, and MPV) and HRV parameters. Linear regression analysis showed no significant association between age, parity, gestational age, body mass index, hemoglobin, RDW, and HRV variables. The Log WBCs were negatively associated with Log HF (ms /Hz). MPV was positively associated with LF Norm and negatively associated with HF Norm.

Conclusion: The study failed to show significant associations between age, parity, gestational age, hemoglobin, RDW, and HRV variables. The WBCs were negatively associated with HF. MPV was positively associated with LF Norm, and it was negatively associated with HF Norm.