Prognostic Value of Heart Rate Variability in Patients With Cancer.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Previous studies have shown that autonomic dysfunction is associated with shorter survival in patients with advanced cancer. We examined the association between heart rate variability, a measure of autonomic function, and survival in a large cohort of patients with cancer.

METHODS:

We retrospectively examined the records of 651 patients with cancer who had undergone ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring for 20 to 24 hours. Time domain heart rate variability (SD of normal-to-normal beat interval [SDNN]) was calculated using power spectral analysis. Survival data were compared between patients with SDNN ≥ 70 milliseconds (Group 1, n = 520) and SDNN < 70 milliseconds (Group 2, n = 131).

RESULTS:

Two groups were similar in most variables, except that patients in group 2 had a significantly higher percentage of male patients (P = 0.03), hematological malignancies (P = 0.04), and use of non-selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (P = 0.04). Patients in group 2 had a significantly shorter survival rate (25% of patients in group 2 died by 18.7 weeks vs. 78.9 weeks in group 1 patients; P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that SDNN < 70 milliseconds remained significant for survival (hazard ratio 1.9 [95% confidence interval: 1.4-2.5]) independent of age, cancer stage, and performance status.

CONCLUSION:

The presence of cancer in combination with decreased heart rate variability (SDNN < 70 milliseconds) is associated with shorter survival time.

• Authors: Ying Guo, Shalini Koshy, David Hui, J Lynn Palmer, Ki Shin, Mehtap Bozkurt, Syed Wamique Yusuf
• Journal: Journal of clinical neurophysiology : official publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society (J Clin Neurophysiol) Vol. 32 Issue 6 Pg. 516-20 (Dec 2015) ISSN: 1537-1603 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26629761 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Autonomic Nervous System (physiopathology)
• Cohort Studies
• Electrocardiography
• Female
• Heart Rate (physiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms (diagnosis, physiopathology)
• Prognosis
• Retrospective Studies
• Young Adult