TY - JOUR
T1 - Bidirectional prospective associations between cardiac autonomic activity and inflammatory markers
AU - Hu, Mandy Xian
AU - Lamers, Femke
AU - Neijts, Melanie
AU - Willemsen, Gonneke
AU - De Geus, Eco J.C.
AU - Penninx, Brenda W.J.H.
PY - 2018/6/1
Y1 - 2018/6/1
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Autonomic nervous system (ANS) imbalance has been cross-sectionally associated with inflammatory processes. Longitudinal studies are needed to shed light on the nature of this relationship. We examined cross-sectional and bidirectional prospective associations between cardiac autonomic measures and inflammatory markers.METHODS: Analyses were conducted with baseline (n=2823), 2-year (n=2099), and 6-year (n=1774) data from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). To compare the pattern of results, prospective analyses with ANS (during sleep, leisure time and work) and inflammation were conducted in two datasets from the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR) measured over 4.9 years (n=356) and 5.4 years (n=472). ANS measures were heart rate (HR) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). Inflammatory markers were C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin(IL)-6.RESULTS: NESDA results showed that higher HR and lower RSA were cross-sectionally significantly associated with higher inflammatory levels. Higher HR predicted higher levels of CRP (B=.065; p<.001) and IL-6 (B=.036; p=.014) at follow-up. Higher CRP levels predicted lower RSA (B=-.024; p=.048) at follow-up. NTR results confirmed that higher HR was associated with higher CRP and IL-6 levels 4.9 years later. Higher IL-6 levels predicted higher HR and lower RSA at follow-up.CONCLUSIONS: Autonomic imbalance is associated with higher levels of inflammation. Independent data from two studies converge in evidence that higher HR predicts subsequent higher levels of CRP and IL-6. Inflammatory markers may also predict future ANS activity, but evidence for this was less consistent.
AB - OBJECTIVE: Autonomic nervous system (ANS) imbalance has been cross-sectionally associated with inflammatory processes. Longitudinal studies are needed to shed light on the nature of this relationship. We examined cross-sectional and bidirectional prospective associations between cardiac autonomic measures and inflammatory markers.METHODS: Analyses were conducted with baseline (n=2823), 2-year (n=2099), and 6-year (n=1774) data from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). To compare the pattern of results, prospective analyses with ANS (during sleep, leisure time and work) and inflammation were conducted in two datasets from the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR) measured over 4.9 years (n=356) and 5.4 years (n=472). ANS measures were heart rate (HR) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). Inflammatory markers were C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin(IL)-6.RESULTS: NESDA results showed that higher HR and lower RSA were cross-sectionally significantly associated with higher inflammatory levels. Higher HR predicted higher levels of CRP (B=.065; p<.001) and IL-6 (B=.036; p=.014) at follow-up. Higher CRP levels predicted lower RSA (B=-.024; p=.048) at follow-up. NTR results confirmed that higher HR was associated with higher CRP and IL-6 levels 4.9 years later. Higher IL-6 levels predicted higher HR and lower RSA at follow-up.CONCLUSIONS: Autonomic imbalance is associated with higher levels of inflammation. Independent data from two studies converge in evidence that higher HR predicts subsequent higher levels of CRP and IL-6. Inflammatory markers may also predict future ANS activity, but evidence for this was less consistent.
KW - ANS = autonomic nervous system
KW - Autonomic nervous system
KW - BMI = body mass index
KW - CAD = coronary artery disease
KW - CRP = C-reactive protein
KW - ECG = electrocardiogram
KW - ELISA = enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
KW - Inflammation
KW - Longitudinal
KW - Vagal activity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85048703344&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85048703344&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000589
DO - https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000589
M3 - Article
C2 - 29742754
SN - 0033-3174
VL - 80
SP - 475
EP - 482
JO - Psychosomatic medicine
JF - Psychosomatic medicine
IS - 5
ER -