Assessment of Body Composition and Heart Rate Variability in Bronchial Asthma

Abstract

Background: Previous  studies were focused mainly either on autonomic modulation using heart rate variability (HRV) or body composition in the bronchial asthma patients, but our study has correlated  both  HRV and body composition  indices in  asthmatic patients. Aim & Objective:To evaluate the possible association of HRV and body composition parameters  with  main  spirometric  indices  in newly diagnosed asthmatic  patients & to compare these findings with healthy subjects. Methods: Thirty   asthmatic  patients (study group ) and 30 apparently healthy subjects (controls) in age group of 20-55 years of both genders  were included.  BMI, waist- hip ratio (WHR)   and  body fat % were measured. Time  and  frequency  domain  parameters of HRV   were recorded to determine sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic modulations. Forced vital Capacity (FVC),  Forced  expiratory  volume  at  1^st second (FEV₁) & FEV₁/FVC ratio parameters were recorded.Results: HF ms² & HF n.u were significantly (P<0.001) higher and LF n.u & LF-HF  ratio  were significantly (P<0.001)  lower in asthmatics as compared to control. WHR was found to be significantly higher in study group as compared to control (P<0.001). We found a negative correlation of LF n.u & LF- HF ratio & positive  correlation  of  HF n.u with FEV1(L), FEV1/FVC %  &  WHR which  was  not found statistically significant. Conclusion: In our study we observed altered autonomic activity with parasympathetic dominance as HF component was higher in asthmatic patients. We also found a significant association between WHR and asthma.

Key words :  Bronchial asthma,  body composition,  heart rate variability.