Investigating the association of anxiety disorders with heart rate variability measured using a wearable device.

Reduced vagally-mediated heart rate variability (HRV) has been associated with anxiety disorders (AD). The aim of this study was to use a wearable device and remote study design to re-evaluate the association of HRV with ADs, anxiety-related traits, and confounders. 240 individuals (AD = 120, healthy controls = 120) completed an at-home assessment of their short-term resting vagally-mediated HRV using a wristband, monitored over videoconference. Following quality control, analyses were performed investigating differences in HRV between individuals with AD (n = 119) and healthy controls (n = 116), associations of HRV with anxiety-related traits and confounders, and antidepressants effects on HRV in patients, including analyses stratified by ancestry (i.e., European, East Asian, African). Among the confounders investigated, only age had a significant association with HRV. Patients with an AD had significantly lower vagally-mediated HRV than healthy controls in the European subsample, with a trend of significance in the whole sample. HRV was significantly associated with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) but not with antidepressant use in the European subsample. The study measures occurred in a non-standardized at-home setting, and the three ancestry group sample sizes were unequal. This study demonstrates reduced vagally-mediated HRV among patients with ADs compared to healthy controls. Results also point to low HRV being related to more physical anxiety symptoms (measured via HAM-A), suggesting a possible anxiety subtype. Overall, this study highlights the feasibility of using wearables for patients and encourages exploration of the biological and clinical utility of HRV as a risk factor for ADs. Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Citation

Julia Tomasi, Clement C Zai, Gwyneth Zai, Deanna Herbert, Margaret A Richter, Ayeshah G Mohiuddin, Arun K Tiwari, James L Kennedy. Investigating the association of anxiety disorders with heart rate variability measured using a wearable device. Journal of affective disorders. 2024 Apr 15;351:569-578

Mesh Tags

Substances

PMID: 38272363

search → result