Twenty-four-hour heart rate variability to assess autonomic function in Parkinson's disease

Objectives - To evaluate the autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease p atients by means of a 24-h heart rate variability (HRV) method. Material mi n methods - Thirteen patients with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease were compared with 13 age-matched healthy persons (control group). The 13 patien ts had a mean age of 70.5 years, and mean disease duration of 10.9 years. T he autonomic function was evaluated by HRV analysis using a continuous 24-h EGG. The parameters of SDNN (standard deviation of the normal-to-normal in tervals between adjacent QRS complexes), of LF (power in low frequency) and of HF (power in high frequency) were studied during the following 3 period s: 24 h, night and day. Results - The data show a statistically significant difference between groups for SDNN and LF in all the periods, while for HF parameters the difference is statistically significant only in the night p eriod. Conclusion - The use of the 24-h HRV method can provide more accurat e and reproducible data than other conventional cardiovascular tests.