A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
The effect of estrogen replacement therapy on cardiac autonomic regulation
Authors: Virtanen I, Polo O, Polo-Kantola P, Kuusela T, Ekholm E
Publisher: ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
Publication year: 2000
Journal: Maturitas
Journal name in source: MATURITAS
Journal acronym: MATURITAS
Volume: 37
First page : 45
Last page: 51
Number of pages: 7
ISSN: 0378-5122
Abstract
Objective: To study the effects of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) and sleep stage on autonomic cardiac regulation. Study design: Seventy-one healthy postmenopausal women received transdermal ERT and placebo separated by a washout in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-bind, cross-over trial. Polysomnography was conducted at the end of each treatment. Heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed in epochs of the awake state, stage 2, slow wave and REM sleep. The effects of estradiol and sleep stages on HRV were analyzed. Results: ERT decreased heart rate in the awake state and quiet sleep, but not in REM sleep. ERT did not change the heart rate variability. Heart rate decreased and HRV increased during stage 2 and slow wave sleep compared with the awake state with placebo. In REM sleep, similarly, heart rate increased above awake values and the values of HRV parameters fell back to awake levels. Conclusions: The results suggest that ERT increases vagal tone, but does not change cardiac vagal modulation. Changes in HRV suggest a strong vagal influence in non-PPM and a sympathetic influence in REM sleep. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
Objective: To study the effects of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) and sleep stage on autonomic cardiac regulation. Study design: Seventy-one healthy postmenopausal women received transdermal ERT and placebo separated by a washout in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-bind, cross-over trial. Polysomnography was conducted at the end of each treatment. Heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed in epochs of the awake state, stage 2, slow wave and REM sleep. The effects of estradiol and sleep stages on HRV were analyzed. Results: ERT decreased heart rate in the awake state and quiet sleep, but not in REM sleep. ERT did not change the heart rate variability. Heart rate decreased and HRV increased during stage 2 and slow wave sleep compared with the awake state with placebo. In REM sleep, similarly, heart rate increased above awake values and the values of HRV parameters fell back to awake levels. Conclusions: The results suggest that ERT increases vagal tone, but does not change cardiac vagal modulation. Changes in HRV suggest a strong vagal influence in non-PPM and a sympathetic influence in REM sleep. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
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