Abstract
The present study investigated resting cardiac
autonomic function in Japanese climacteric women
using heart rate variability (HRV) power spectral
analysis to evaluate the relationship between HRV
indices and estrogen, as well as the ability of each
HRV index to predict vasomotor symptoms. Fortyfive
peri- and postmenopausal women completed
a questionnaire about the presence of vasomotor
symptoms (hot flashes, sweating). To analyze
the relationship between HRV and hot flashes or
sweating, we classified subjects into groups based
on symptoms and combinations of symptoms: no
hot flashes (H1), hot flashes (H2), non-sweating
(S1), sweating (S2), neither hot flashes nor
sweating (V1), either hot flashes or sweating (V2),
and both hot flashes and sweating (V3). Values
for total power and the low-frequency component
of HRV were significantly lower in the H2 group
than in H1 ( p < 0.05); values for total power and
the high-frequency and low-frequency components
of HRV were significantly lower in group S2 than
S1 ( p < 0.05); and values for total power and the
high-frequency and low-frequency component of
HRV were significantly lower in groups V2 and V3
compared to V1 ( p < 0.05). Clinical diagnosis of
climacterium relies upon subjective complaints of
patients. Our findings suggest that HRV indices
may help to evaluate vasomotor symptoms.
