Objectives: It has been hypothesised that functional somatic disorders (FSD) could be initiated by sympathetic predominance in the autonomic nervous system as measured by low heart rate variability (HRV). Earlier studies on the association between HRV and FSD are small case-control studies hampered by selection bias and do not consider the great overlap between the various FSDs. The aim of the present study is to assess any associations between HRV and various FSDs and whether chronic stress confounds such an association.

Design: A cross-sectional general population-based study.

Setting: The Danish Study of Functional Somatic Disorders conducted 2013-2015 in 10 municipalities in the western part of Greater Copenhagen, Denmark.

Participants: A total of 6891 men and women aged 18-72 years were included in the analyses after exclusion of 602 persons with missing HRV data. Various delimitations of FSD (chronic fatigue, chronic widespread pain, irritable bowel and bodily distress syndrome) were identified by validated questionnaires and diagnostic interviews. HRV parameters in time and frequency domains were calculated from successive beat-to-beat heart rate (HR) data using the 'E-motion' HR monitor device during 7 min of supine rest. Chronic stress was assessed by Cohen's self-perceived stress scale.

Outcome Measures: Logistic regression analyses were used to calculate possible associations between the various delimitations of FSD and HRV adjusting for chronic stress.

Results: Persons with FSD had a slightly higher mean HR and lower HRV as measured by time domain parameters, whereas associations with frequency domain parameters were not consistent. Adjusting for chronic stress attenuated associations slightly.

Conclusion: The study supports a sympathetic predominance in persons with FSD, which could not be entirely explained by chronic stress. However, it is not possible to conclude whether the association is a causal factor to or a consequence of FSD.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10860071PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073909DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

chronic stress
16
heart rate
12
functional somatic
12
rate variability
8
somatic disorders
8
sympathetic predominance
8
delimitations fsd
8
adjusting chronic
8
persons fsd
8
domain parameters
8

Similar Publications

Background: Self-reported mental stress is not consistently recognized as a risk factor for stroke. This prompted development of a novel algorithm for stress-phenotype indices to quantify chronic stress prevalence in relation to a modified stroke risk score in a South African cohort. The algorithm is based on biomarkers adrenocorticotrophic hormone, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-sensitive cardiac-troponin-T, and diastolic blood pressure which exemplifies the stress-ischemic-phenotype index.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive and dangerous drug that mainly affects neurotransmitters in the brain and leads to feelings of alertness and euphoria. The METH use can lead to addiction, which has become a worldwide problem, resulting in a slew of public health and safety issues. Recent studies showed that chronic METH use can lead to neurotoxicity, neuro-inflammation and oxidative stress which can lead to neuronal injury.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

At the present stage, great progress has been achieved in understanding the mechanisms of the development of cerebral ischemia. This became possible due to the achievements of theoretical disciplines, in connection with which the general biological approach was formed in the study of pathogenesis of acute and chronic cerebrovascular disorders (CVD). The discovery of pathways of free radical oxidation in cerebral ischemia made it possible to substantiate and develop therapeutic strategies using drugs with antioxidant and neuroprotective activity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Insomnia during the COVID-19 pandemic: prevalence and correlates in a multi-ethnic population Singapore.

BMC Public Health

December 2024

Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Buangkok Green, Medical Park, Singapore, 7539747, Singapore.

Background: Globally, the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a significant impact on mental health. Sudden lifestyle changes, threatening information received through various sources, fear of infection and other stressors led to sleep disturbances such as insomnia. The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of insomnia and its associated risk factors during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic among Singapore residents.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The CEL-HYB1 hybrid allele of the carboxyl ester lipase (CEL) gene and its pseudogene (CELP) has been associated with chronic pancreatitis (CP). Recent work indicated that amino acid positions 488 and 548 in CEL-HYB1 determined pathogenicity. Haplotype Thr488-Ile548 was associated with CP while haplotypes Thr488-Thr548 and Ile488-Thr548 were benign.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!