對不同族裔及性別做HRV實驗發現美國非洲裔其HRV及HF(副交感)顯著高於美國歐洲裔;玩電動時女性之HRV及HF下降較多於男性;一年半後再測時發現發胖者其HRV下降
A longitudinal study in youth of heart rate variability at rest and in response to stress.
Int J Psychophysiol. 2009; 73(3):212-7 (ISSN: 1872-7697)
Li Z; Snieder H; Su S; Ding X; Thayer JF; Treiber FA; Wang X
Georgia Prevention Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.

BACKGROUND: Few longitudinal studies have examined ethnic and sex differences, predictors and tracking stabilities of heart rate variability (HRV) at rest and in response to stress in youths and young adults. METHODS: Two evaluations were performed approximately 1.5 years apart on 399 youths and young adults (189 European Americans [EAs] and 210 African Americans [AAs]; 190 males and 209 females). HRV was measured at rest and during a video game challenge. RESULTS: AAs showed significantly higher resting root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) of normal R-R intervals and high-frequency (HF) power than EAs (ps<0.01). Females displayed larger decrease of RMSSD and HF during video game challenge than males (ps<0.05). These ethnic and sex differences were consistent across 1.5 years. No significant sex difference of resting HRV or ethnic difference of HRV response to stress was observed. In addition to age, ethnicity or sex, baseline resting HRV or HRV response to stress are predictors of the corresponding variables 1.5 years later (ps<0.01). Furthermore, weight gain indexed by either body mass index or waist circumference predicts declined resting HRV levels during follow up (ps<0.05). Tracking stabilities were high (>0.5) for resting HRV, but relatively low (<0.3) for HRV in response to stress. CONCLUSION: AAs show higher resting HRV than EAs, and females display greater HRV response to stress than males; and these ethnic and sex differences are consistent across 1.5 years. Resting HRV declines with weight gain.