The relationships between respiratory sinus arrhythmia and coronary heart disease risk factors

Heart rate variability has been used as a non-invasive index of parasympathetic activity as well as a possible predictor of mortality and sudden cardiac death. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between patterns of heart rate variability associated with respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), respiratory dysfunction and primary CHD risk factors which together may be used as potential screening indicators for the early identification of coronary status. The results show a negative relationship between: 1) respiratory sinus arrhythmia and the severity of CHD risk factors, 2) lung function and the severity of CHD risk factors and, a positive relationship between respiratory sinus arrhythmia and lung function.