Exploring The Link: Obesity Markers and Heart Rate Variability in Young Adults

Abstract

 Background: Obesity is considered a major independent risk factor for various diseases including Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy (CAN). Diagnosing CAN sub clinically is difcult and uncommon, however it may be detected through Heart Rate Variability (HRV) analysis. Nevertheless, HRV is not done routinely in obese individuals. Aims & Objectives: To determine the correlation between obesity markers and HRV parameters to know which obesity marker(s) can be used as a screening tool for CAN in obese population. Method: Study participants were 60 morbidly obese volunteering patients from the bariatric surgery outpatient department between 20-40 years of age. Anthropometric measurements (Height, Weight, Waist Circumference, Hip Circumference) were taken using non-elastic measuring tape. Body fat percentage was measured using QUADCAN-4000 and ECG was recorded for 5 minutes using Medicaid-Physiopac PP-8 device. Recorded ECG was retrieved and further analysed using software Kubios HRV version 2.0 to get time domain and frequency domain parameters of HRV. Data collected was manually entered into a Microsoft Excel sheet and analysed using EPI Info (version 7.2). The correlation between obesity markers and HRV parameters, was analysed using Pearson's correlation coefcient. Result: BMI and Body Fat % showed a signicant correlation with Mean RR, LF and HF while no signicant correlation was seen between WHR and HRV parameters. Conclusion: BMI and Body Fat Percentage can be used as a preliminary screening tool for early detection of the autonomic imbalance related to obesity in morbidly obese individuals.