Lydia Brown1, Chandan Karmakar2, Richard Gray3, Ripu Jindal4, Terrence Lim5, Christina Bryant6. 1. Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Redmond Barry Building, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Healthscope Hospitals, Australia. Electronic address: lydiaab@unimelb.edu.au. 2. School of Information Technology, Deakin University, Australia; Melbourne School of Engineering, University of Melbourne, Australia. 3. Healthscope Hospitals, Australia; School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Australia. 4. Birmingham VA Medical Center and University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States. 5. Healthscope Hospitals, Australia. 6. Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Redmond Barry Building, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: There is strong evidence for a bi-directional relationship between heart-health and depression in later life, but the physiological mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. Heart rate variability is one promising factor that might help explain this relationship. We present results of a meta-analysis that considers heart rate variability alterations in older adults with depression. METHODS: Literature search of Embase, PsychInfo and Medline revealed five clinical studies and six observational studies that examined the relationship between heart rate variability and depression in adults with a mean age over 60. These studies were included in this meta-analysis. RESULTS: Heart rate variability was reduced among older adults with clinical depression (N = 550), relative to healthy controls (Hedges' g = -0.334, 95%CI [-0.579, -0.090], p = .007). When high-frequency and low-frequency heart rate variability were investigated separately, only low-frequency heart rate variability was significantly reduced in depressed patients (Hedges' g = -0.626, 95%CI [-1.083, -0.169], p = .007). A similar but weaker pattern of results was found in the observational studies. Most findings remained significant among unmedicated depressed older adults. LIMITATIONS: Evidence of effect-size heterogeneity was found in the clinical studies, indicating the need for more well-designed research in the area. CONCLUSION: Heart rate variability is reduced among older adults with depression, and this effect is not fully attributable to antidepressant medication use. Specifically, low-frequency heart rate variability may be reduced in depressed older adults. Heart rate variability warrants further attention, as it could help inform research into the prevention and treatment of depression in later life.
OBJECTIVE: There is strong evidence for a bi-directional relationship between heart-health and depression in later life, but the physiological mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. Heart rate variability is one promising factor that might help explain this relationship. We present results of a meta-analysis that considers heart rate variability alterations in older adults with depression. METHODS: Literature search of Embase, PsychInfo and Medline revealed five clinical studies and six observational studies that examined the relationship between heart rate variability and depression in adults with a mean age over 60. These studies were included in this meta-analysis. RESULTS: Heart rate variability was reduced among older adults with clinical depression (N = 550), relative to healthy controls (Hedges' g = -0.334, 95%CI [-0.579, -0.090], p = .007). When high-frequency and low-frequency heart rate variability were investigated separately, only low-frequency heart rate variability was significantly reduced in depressedpatients (Hedges' g = -0.626, 95%CI [-1.083, -0.169], p = .007). A similar but weaker pattern of results was found in the observational studies. Most findings remained significant among unmedicated depressed older adults. LIMITATIONS: Evidence of effect-size heterogeneity was found in the clinical studies, indicating the need for more well-designed research in the area. CONCLUSION: Heart rate variability is reduced among older adults with depression, and this effect is not fully attributable to antidepressant medication use. Specifically, low-frequency heart rate variability may be reduced in depressed older adults. Heart rate variability warrants further attention, as it could help inform research into the prevention and treatment of depression in later life.
Authors: Lydia Brown; Alora A Rando; Kristina Eichel; Nicholas T Van Dam; Christopher M Celano; Jeff C Huffman; Meg E Morris Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2021 Jul-Aug 01 Impact factor: 4.312
Authors: Tian Hong Zhang; Xiao Chen Tang; Li Hua Xu; Yan Yan Wei; Ye Gang Hu; Hui Ru Cui; Ying Ying Tang; Tao Chen; Chun Bo Li; Lin Lin Zhou; Ji Jun Wang Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2022-01-21 Impact factor: 7.348