DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i09.050

Pages: 3164-3168

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common debilitating autoimmune disorders associated with morbidity and mortality. Cardiovascular complications are main extra articular complications. The cardiac risk in them can be estimated by analyzing the autonomic nervous system which can be assessed easily and non-invasively by Heart rate variability (HRV). Assessment of autonomic dysfunction in RA patients by measuring heart rate variability and its correlation with various factors.45 RA patients (40 females and 5 males; age group 18-45 years) along with 45 age and BMI matched controls were evaluated by Frequency domain HRV parameters: LF nu. (%); HF nu. (%) and LF/HF ratio recorded by Polyrite D based on EKG. The mean heart rate, standard deviation of all R-R intervals (SDNN), rootmeansquare of successive differences (RMSSD)and number of R-R intervals differing by >50 m sec from adjacent intervals (NN50) were measured in the time domain analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 20 and t-test was used to derive the level of significance. LFnu and LF/HF ratio increased significantly (P < 0.001) whereas HFnu decreased significantly (P < 0.001) in RA patients. There is a significant decrease in heart rate (P < 0.001) and significant increase in SBP (P < 0.001) and DBP show significant difference between both the groups. There is no correlation with disease severity but has significant negative correlation of all time domain parameters and LFnu with duration of illness. All time domain parameters are significantly low in RA patients compared with control subjects. Decreased Heart rate variability indicates deranged cardiovascular autonomic functions in RA patients and significantly associated with duration of illness.