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  • Title: Differences in heart rate variability between depressed and non-depressed elderly.
    Author: van der Kooy KG, van Hout HP, van Marwijk HW, de Haan M, Stehouwer CD, Beekman AT.
    Journal: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry; 2006 Feb; 21(2):147-50. PubMed ID: 16416460.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To determine whether older primary care patients with a Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) have lower heart rate variability (HRV) compared to non-depressed patients. HRV is a measure of cardiac autonomic functioning. METHOD: A cross-sectional comparison of 136 elderly persons with MDD and 136 non-depressed controls (matched for age and gender) recruited in family practices in the Netherlands. Depression was determined according to the DSM-IV criteria using the PRIME-MD. HRV was measured with an electrocardiogram (ECG) during a 5-minute supine rest. RESULTS: Multivariate analyses showed statistically significant decrease in HRV in MDD patients compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Older primary care patients with MDD have a reduced HRV. This may explain why depression is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality.
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