Heart rate variability and renal organ damage in hypertensive patients

Heart rate variability (HRV), a noninvasive measure of autonomic dysfunction and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), has not been systematically studied in hypertensive patients in relation with renal involvement. A retrospective analysis on a cohort of hypertensive patients was performed to show differences in groups of patients categorized according to renal involvement, assessed by glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Patient with 24-h ECG Holter monitoring and other clinical information registered in the database of the Hypertension Clinic of the University of Naples Federico II were selected. Linear standard HRV measures were computed according to international guidelines on 24-h nominal ECG. A total of 200 patients were included in the present study. Decreased ratio of low to high frequency power (LF/HF) was associated with patient with moderate GFR, the highest grade of renal involvement considered in this study. These results were consistent with the findings of previous studies which concluded that depressed HRV was associated with higher risk of progression to end-stage renal disease and suggested that autonomic dysfunction may lead to kidney damage. Further research is needed to define the role of autonomic dysfunction in the development of renal disease and of HRV as a diagnostic or prognostic maker in hypertensive patients.