Abstract
Heart rate variability was studied in normal subjects age 1 month-24 years while awake and in active and quiet sleep using 24 h continuous recordings of the ECG. Variability was quantified by spectral analysis for the two frequency bands: low frequency (LF) 0.03-0.15 Hz, high frequency (HF) 0.15-0.6 Hz. Heart rate variability showed an age dependence, being in general an increase in LF, HF and total power from 0-6 years, followed by a decrease to 24 years. The infant group showed some exceptions to this trend. Developmental changes of parasympathetic and sympathetic mediation of heart rate are postulated as important determinants of age dependence of heart rate variability.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 103-108 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System |
| Volume | 51 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 9 1995 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This study was supported by a grant from the Nova Scotia Heart & Stroke Foundation and the IWK Children's Hospital Foundation. The authors thank particularly Brian Hoyt, Harry Cal-houn, Penny Human RN, Becky Attenborough RN, Brian Hanna MD, H. Sun, Petra Rykers, A. Brodie, K. Mantin and the subjects and their families.
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- General Neuroscience
- Physiology
- Clinical Neurology