Assessment of cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease using heart rate variability

Abstract

Cardiac autonomic dysfunction has been majorly linked with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has related this condition to an increase in cardiovascular risk. This study compared heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity among 120 patients with CKD and 60 healthy individuals. Patients with CKD exhibited a significant decrease in the HRV parameters and baroreflex sensitivity (p < 0.001). The more advanced the CKD stage and the worse the eGFR, the worse the autonomic dysfunction. A non-invasive measure referred to as HRV analysis can be conducted to stratify early cardiovascular risks in CKD.