Relationship of Autonomic Nervous System Activity with Premenstrual Syndrome

Abstract

Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate autonomy nervous system activity during the menses and premenstrual period of the menstrual cycle using heart rate variability in women with prementstrual syndrome.
Materials and methods: The study included volunteer women (n= 68), who were determined to have premenstrual symptoms according to the premenstrual syndrome diagnostic scale (ACOG), and who were between the ages of 18-30, students and assistants of Inonu University Medical Faculty. during the menses (1-3 days) and premenstrual (24-27 days) periods of the menstrual cycle, 5-minute ECG was taken and blood pressure measurements were made for one day heart rate variability analysis. In the statistical analysis of the data, normal distribution test was applied. Paired t test was used for repeated measurements of data providing normal distribution and Friedman test was used for analysis of data that did not provide normal distribution was used for the comparison of both phases of the menstrual cycle. p <0.05 values were accepted significant.
Results: It was determined that time between two heartbeats and duration of QRS complex intervals, which are time dependent parameters, were statistically lower in premenstrual period than menses (p <0.05). High frequency (normalized) and % high frequency were statistically lower in the premenstrual period, while the frequency dependent parameters were statistically higher in the low frequency (normalized) and log low frequency/ high frequency premenstrual period than menses (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Heart rate variability parameters reflecting sympathetic activity increased during the premenstrual period of the menstrual cycle. According to the findings changes in sympathetic activity may affect premenstrual symptoms to occur.

Keywords

• Heart rate variability (HRV)
• autonomy nervous system activity
• menstrual cycle
• premenstrual symptom

Otonom Sinir Sistemi Aktivitesinin Premenstrual Sendromla İlişkisi

Öz

Amaç: Çalışmanın amacı, premenstrual sendromlu bayanlarda menstrual siklusun menstrual ve premenstrual dönemlerinde kalp hızı değişkenliği ölçülerek, premenstrual stresin otonom sinir sistemi aktivitesi ile ilişkisini araştırmaktır.
Materyal ve Metod: Çalışmaya premenstrual sendrom tanı ölçeği (ACOG) krtiterlerine göre premenstrual semptom yaşadığı belirlenen ve yaşları 18-30 arasındaki İnönü Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi öğrencileri ve asistanlarından oluşan gönüllü bayanlar (n=68) dahil edilmiştir. Katılımcılara menstrual döngünün menstrual (1-3 gün) ve premenstrual (24-27 gün) dönemlerde bir gün kalp hızı değişkenliği analizi için 5 dakikalık EKG çekimi yapılmış ve kan basıncı ölçümleri yapılmıştır. Verilerin istatistiksel analizinde normal dağılım testi uygulanmıştır. Normal dağılım varsayımı sağlayan verilerin tekrarlı ölçümlerinde Paired t testi, normal dağılım varsayımı sağlamayan verilerin analizinde ise Friedman testi kullanılarak iki dönem karşılaştırılmıştır. p<0.05 değerleri anlamlı kabul edilmiştir.
Bulgular: Zaman bağımlı parametrelerden iki kalp atımı arasındaki süre ve QRS kompleksi aralıkları süresinin menstrual döneme göre premenstrual dönemde istatistiksel olarak daha düşük olduğu tespit edilmiştir (p<0.05). Frekans bağımlı parametrelerden ise yüksek frekans (normalize) ve % yüksek frekans premenstrual dönemde istatistiksel olarak daha düşük iken, düşük frekans (normalize) ve düşük frekans/ yüksek frekansın logaritmasının premenstrual dönemde istatistiksel olarak daha yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir (p<0.05).
Sonuç: Sempatik aktiviteyi yansıtan kalp hızı değişkenliği parametreleri menstrual döngünün premenstrual döneminde yükselmiştir. Elde edilen bulgulara göre sempatik aktivitede görülen değişiklikler premenstrual semptomların oluşmasına etken olabilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Kalp hızı değişkenliği (KHD), otonom sinir sistemi aktivitesi, menstrual döngü, premenstrual semptom.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Kalp hızı değişkenliği (KHD)
• otonom sinir sistemi aktivitesi
• menstrual döngü
• premenstrual semptom.

Kaynakça

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