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Jørgensen T, Dantoft TM, Petersen MW, Gormsen L, Winter-Jensen M, Fink P, Linneberg A, Benros ME, Eplov LF, Bjerregaard AA, Schovsbo SU, Brinth LS. Is reduced heart rate variability associated with functional somatic disorders? A cross-sectional population-based study; DanFunD. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e073909. [PMID: 38326244 PMCID: PMC10860071 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torben Jørgensen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Meinertz Dantoft
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Marie Weinreich Petersen
- Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lise Gormsen
- Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Matilde Winter-Jensen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Per Fink
- Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Allan Linneberg
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Eriksen Benros
- Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health - CORE, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lene Falgaard Eplov
- Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health - CORE, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Ahrendt Bjerregaard
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Signe Ulfbeck Schovsbo
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Louise Schouborg Brinth
- Department of Imaging and Radiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - North Zealand, Helsingør, Denmark
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