DETERMINATION OF HEART RATE VARIABILITY, A POSSIBLE MARKER FOR ASSESSING INTRINSIC CAPACITY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22551/MSJ.2025.04.05Abstract
The assessment of heart rate variability (HRV) parameters is a non-invasive method of multidimensional evaluation of geriatric patients, independent of complex geriatric and clinical-biological assessment, with an impact on the early identification of nutritional disorder, cognitive status, psycho-emotional status, frailty, cardiovascular mortality risk, as well as functional disorders and maintaining quality of life. Aim: To determine HRV parameters and their role in assessing intrinsic capacity in old patients. Materials and methods: We determined HRV in a group of 83 patients over the age of 65 who were admitted to the Geriatric Clinic of the Dr. C. I. Parhon Hospital in Iasi, and we also performed a complex geriatric assessment by evaluating cognitive status (MMSE - Mini-Mental State Exam), nutritional status (MNA - Mini Nutritional Assessment), psycho-emotional (GDS - Geriatric Depression Scale), risk of falling (Downton Scale), the presence or the absence of the urinary incontinence, as well as determining body composition using bioimpedance. Results: The average age was 75.64 ± 6.64 years with a median of 75 years, most patients being women (63.9%). The distribution by age group shows that most patients were between 65 and 74 years old (48.2%), falling into the young old category; of these, 60% were female. Low scores on the MNA, as well as low muscle strength, body mass index, bone mass, visceral fat values or urinary incontinence are correlated with decreased heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. The presence of anemia or depressive symptoms is associated with reduced levels of HRV parameters. Conclusions: Data obtained support the existence of a causal relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and a number of factors, both dependent on the patient’s clinical-biological status and geriatric profile, and independent of it. Early identification of these factors in the old population is essential for preventing adverse changes in body composition, appearance in psycho-emotional disorder, urinary incontinence, as well as for mitigating their impact on autonomy and quality of life.
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