Open AccessMenopausal hot flushes do not associate with changes in heart rate variability in controlled testing: a randomized trial on hormone therapy
Author(s) -
Hautamäki Hanna,
Mikkola Tomi S.,
Sovijärvi Anssi R.A.,
Piirilä Päivi,
Haapalahti Petri
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1111/aogs.12164
Subject(s) - medicine , heart rate variability , orthostatic vital signs , menopause , randomized controlled trial , placebo , autonomic nervous system , heart rate , cardiology , blood pressure , alternative medicine , pathology
Objective To compare in controlled cardiovascular autonomic function tests the effects of hormone therapy ( HT ) on heart rate variability ( HRV ) responses in postmenopausal women with and without pretreatment hot flushes. Design A randomized placebo‐controlled trial. Setting Finland, Helsinki University Central Hospital. Population A total of 150 recently postmenopausal and healthy women with prospectively evaluated hot flushes. Methods Women (72 with and 78 without hot flushes) were randomized to receive estradiol alone or in combination with medroxyprogesterone acetate or placebo for 6 months. Time and frequency domain measures of HRV were assessed at baseline and after HT with short‐term recordings during paced quiet and deep breathing and with active orthostatic tests, both under carefully controlled laboratory conditions to avoid confounding factors present in long‐term ambulatory HRV measurements. Main outcome measures Responses of time and frequency domain measures of HRV to HT . Results At baseline HRV was similar in women with and without hot flushes. Pretreatment hot flushes did not associate with changes in time domain parameters of HRV during controlled quiet or deep breathing or active orthostatic tests after different types of HT . However, HT reduced HRV in very low frequency power in women with pretreatment hot flushes (from 371 ± 40 to 258 ± 28 ms 2 , p = 0.018). HT did not have an effect on other frequency domain measures during quiet breathing or active orthostatic tests. Conclusions Hormone therapy did not significantly modify the HRV responses in women with or without hot flushes under controlled short‐term measurements of the cardiovascular autonomic nervous system.