Received 12 June 2003; received
in revised form 9 December 2003; accepted 5 March 2004.
International Journal of Cardiology, Volume
101, Issue
2, Pages 273-278 (25 May 2005)
Background: Reduction of heart rate variability as a
consequence of heart disease and postural change has been well documented.
However, the data on the effect of postural change in pediatric patients are
incomplete and the effect is not fully understood. The aim of the study was to
investigate effect of postural change on heart rate variability in relation to
the extent of severity of heart disease. Methods: The dependence of
heart rate variability on posture in 41 children and young adults (8–20 years)
with heart disease has been investigated and compared with control. Short-term
electrocardiograms (ECGs) were assessed in supine
rest and active standing, and spectral measures of heart rate variability were
determined. Results: Two types of response to the change of supine to
standing posture were determined in both healthy and diseased subjects. In
majority of subjects, the increased heart rate induced by standing was
accompanied by a decrease in high-frequency power. However, in about 30% of all
subjects, increased heart rate during standing was accompanied by an increased
high-frequency power. Independently of posture and disease, high-frequency and
low-frequency power were positively correlated. In subjects characterized by a
reduction of heart rate variability in standing, the high-frequency power in
both postures is reduced in diseased subjects compared to control. Conclusions:
These results demonstrate that in this age range, the response to posture is
not unique because of the difference in high-frequency power, which implies a
variety of vagal modulations of heart rate.
Keywords: Heart rate variability,
Active standing,
Children and young
adults, Cardiac patients