Abstract
Keywords
Introduction
Heart rate variability (HRV) is the rate of variability between each heartbeat with respect to time. HRV is primarily used to analyze the autonomic nervous system (ANS) which consists of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. ANS is a control system used to modulate the body’s unconscious actions, such as cardiac, respiration, blood pressure, digestion, and urination. 1
The heart is highly innervated by autonomic nerves. Impaired vagal function and various potassium channels stimulated by sympathetic activity affecting the HRV are possibly the mechanisms linking to brain disorders.2, 3 HRV is a classical biomarker, an informative indicator of the brain–body integration, pathological states, or concomitant health. 4 By the neurovisceral integration (NVI) model, a reduction in activation of the central autonomic network (CAN) may affect the decreased level of HRV. The CAN modulates the neuroendocrine, visceromotor, and behavioral systems, and has a connection with the sinoatrial node of the heart via the stellate ganglion through the vagus nerve. 5 The heart rhythm is coordinated with the cardiac action potential generation by the SA node, depolarization, and repolarization of myocyte by intricate flows of ions primarily sodium, calcium, and potassium across myocyte cell membranes. ANS is a major modulator of cardiac electrophysiology and particularly potassium current. 3
Autonomic, cardiovascular, neuronal, psychological factors, and pathological states do affect HRV. Depression and anxiety disorders have low HRV and an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease and mortality, which can be identified by HRV and HRT (heart rate turbulence).4, 6–9 Improvement in low HRV may cure major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety. HRV effects are considered by clinicians while selecting a medication for a depressed patient who has a low cardiac vagal tone.8, 10 The previous study results showed that psychotherapy improves HRV; a CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy) with a breathing relaxation exercise could significantly increase SDNN (standard deviation of NN intervals) and decrease the LF/HF ratio. Pharmacotherapy with tricyclic anti-depressants (TCAs) (imipramine, doxepin, and amitriptyline) results showed a decrease in most measures of HRV along with an increase in heart rate.11–13 Fluoxetine, sertraline, or agomelatine could increase HF while mirtazapine or venlafaxine has no significant effect on HRV. 11 SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are prescribed for depression and anxiety due to selectivity, effectiveness, and relatively low toxic profile as compared to their predecessors, the monoamine oxidase inhibitors, TCAs, and antianxiety agents. 14 Still, the effect of SSRIs (fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, and paroxetine) on HRV is less clear. 13
Fluoxetine is a longer-acting bicyclic compound used as an anti-depressant and escitalopram an active S-enantiomer of the racemic mixture of RS-citalopram widely used as an antianxiety drug at tertiary care teaching hospital of South Gujarat.
The effect of fluoxetine on cloned human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes suggests that hERG potassium channels are blocked by the fluoxetine. The effects of escitalopram on hERG channels expressed in human embryonic kidney cells, suggest that escitalopram blocked hERG currents.15–17 In clinical medicine, changes in K+ homeostasis, either hypokalemia or hyperkalemia reveal pathophysiologic consequences due to reduced dietary K+ intake.18, 19 Adrenaline is released more in anxiety and depression which causes an increased potassium uptake into the cells via Na+/K+ ATPase system-modulated beta-adrenoceptors.20, 21
There is a scarcity of data regarding the effect of SSRIs on HRV. So, this study was planned to check the effect of fluoxetine and escitalopram on HRV and serum potassium levels in patients of depression and anxiety and to find out the correlation between the effect of these two drugs on HRV, whether dependent on serum potassium level or not.
Materials and Methods
This was a prospective, open-label, observational study designed as per STROBE guidelines, conducted after approval of the institutional ethical committee (NO.MCS/STU/ETHICS/APPROVAL/22662/16). Enrollment of the 70 participants was done as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria at the psychiatry department of the tertiary care teaching hospital of south Gujarat and written informed consent was taken.
Inclusion criteria:
Patients of either gender between the ages of 20 and 65 years. Newly diagnosed patients of depressive and anxiety disorders as per DSM-5 (diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders) criteria, not exposed to earlier SSRI or any psychotropic drugs for at least last 6 months.
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Exclusion criteria:
Patients with cardiovascular disease. History of substance abuse within a last year. Patients with suicidal tendencies, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder, seizure disorder, concurrent major illness, or systemic dysfunction involving hepatic and renal system. Pregnant and lactating women. H/O allergy to any of the medications mentioned above.
The individuals participating in this study were divided into the following two groups:
Fluoxetine group ( Escitalopram group (
Dosages of the drug:
Fluoxetine = 20 mg/day
Escitalopram = 10 mg/day
Control: Pretreatment value of the same patient.
The individuals participating in this study were compared for pretreatment and posttreatment parameters at 4, 8, and 12 weeks.
Parameters: HRV, serum potassium, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure HRV was calculated by root mean square deviation of successive differences between adjacent RR intervals (RMSSD). ECG (electrocardiogram) was recorded by Physio Pac Digital Polygraph software for 5 minutes after 20 minutes of rest. 23
Blood pressure (systolic + diastolic) was measured by the auscultatory method according to the recommendations VIII Joint National Committee (JNC VIII). At least two measurements were taken, and the average was recorded. 24
Along with that, heart rate and respiratory rate were also recorded.
For the estimation of serum potassium level, 2 mL venous blood sample was collected in plain vacuity and subjected to electrolyte analysis was done in a biochemistry laboratory by ion selective electrode technique and recorded.
All statistical analysis was done using SPSS 20.0 software.
All values were expressed as mean ± SD.
Statistical analysis was done by repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) test with Greenhouse–Geisser correction and
Results
A total of 23 male and 10 female participants were prescribed fluoxetine. A total of 17 male and 14 female participants were prescribed escitalopram (Figures 1 and 2).
General Characteristics of the Fluoxetine Group.
General Characteristics of the Escitalopram Group.
Effects of Fluoxetine (n = 33) on HRV Measured During Follow-Up Visits with Those at Baseline
Repeated measures ANOVA with a Greenhouse–Geisser correction determined that HRV differed statistically significantly between time points (F (2.52,10362.57) = 15.61,
Effects of Escitalopram (n = 31) on HRV Measured During Follow-Up Visits with Those at Baseline
Repeated measures ANOVA with a Greenhouse–Geisser correction determined that HRV not differed statistically significantly between time points (F (2.22,858.20) =1.35,
Effects of Fluoxetine (n = 33) and Escitalopram (n = 31) on HRV Measured During Follow-Up Visits with Those at Baseline (n = 64).
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Repeated measure ANOVA with Greenhouse–Geisser correction reveals serum potassium did not differ statistically significantly at different time points (
Effects of Fluoxetine (n = 33) and Escitalopram (n = 31) on Serum Potassium Measured During Follow-Up Visits with Those at Baseline (n = 64).
The correlation between HRV and serum potassium was checked by the Pearson Correlation Coefficient test which is significant at the 0.05 (2-tailed) level. In the Fluoxetine group of patients, Pearson’s correlation coefficient pretreatment (
Repeated measure ANOVA with Greenhouse–Geisser correction reveals heart rates did not differ statistically significantly at different time points (
Effects of Fluoxetine and Escitalopram on Heart Rate Measured During Follow-Up Visits with Those at Baseline (n = 64).
Repeated measure ANOVA with Greenhouse–Geisser correction reveals respiratory rate did not differ statistically significantly at different time points (
Effects of Fluoxetine and Escitalopram on Respiratory Rate Measured During Follow-Up Visits with Those at Baseline (n = 64).
Repeated measure ANOVA with Greenhouse–Geisser correction reveals systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) was not statistically significant at different time points (
Effects of Fluoxetine and Escitalopram on Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure Measured During Follow-Up Visits with Those at Baseline (n = 64).
Discussion
As far back as 1965, the clinical importance of HRV was noted when it was found that alterations in HRV without any changes occurred in heart rate itself in fetal distress. 10 Over the span of years, the assessment of HRV has increased in various research areas. The fact that HRV is noninvasive and reproducible—if carried out under standardized conditions. 25
Mathematical chaos can be described as complex patterns of variability exhibited in a healthy biological system. Time domain variables can be calculated directly from R–R intervals, and frequency domain variables are generated from ECG spectral analysis. By observing variation in these parameters after administering ANS antagonists, relative contributions of ANS have been inferred. Although the total power of the spectrum represents the general level of autonomic activation, low-frequency activity (<0.15 Hz) is mainly due to baroreceptor reflex modulation, related to both vagal and sympathetic influence, and high-frequency activity is mainly aligned with vagal activity. Low to high-frequency ratio is accepted to indicate the balance between both systems; however, this interpretation fails to take account of effects such as different temporal patterns of sympathetic and parasympathetic components and cardiac pacemaker sensitivity. 10 The HRV LF band primarily reflects the vagally stimulated slow response, which is transmitted between the medulla and heart. ultra low frequency (ULF) and very low frequency (VLF) rhythms are associated with overall health status based on 24-hour monitoring.
In this study, total of 23 male and 10 female participants were prescribed fluoxetine and a total of 17 male and 14 female participants were prescribed escitalopram. Two patients from the fluoxetine group and four patients from the escitalopram group were excluded due to loss of follow-up.
Repeated measures ANOVA with a Greenhouse–Geisser correction determined that HRV differed statistically significantly between time points (F (2.52,10362.57) = 15.61,
In this study, a significant difference was present between HRV of pretreatment and after the second month of treatment with SSRIs, HRV of pretreatment, and after three months of treatment with SSRIs. A previous study conducted by Srivastava and Kantharia suggests that amitriptyline has produced a statistically significant effect on HRV after two and four weeks of treatment as compared to pretreatment values in diabetic patients. 26
In contrast, the short-term recordings of patients treated with SSRIs showed a marginally significant increase only in SDNN. Again, it is difficult to comment on these results as the long-term studies were markedly contradictory. 13
Repeated measure ANOVA with Greenhouse–Geiser correction reveals serum potassium levels did not differ statistically significantly at different time points (
In the present study, the correlation between HRV and serum potassium was checked by the Pearson correlation coefficient test which is significant at the 0.05 (2-tailed) level. In the Fluoxetine group of patients, Pearson’s correlation coefficient was not significant at pretreatment (
SSRIs are unlikely to cause cardiovascular adverse events when used in recommended dosage ranges, in a similar way, present study results reveal that heart rates do not differ statistically significantly before and after treatment with fluoxetine and escitalopram.11, 27
There is a significant decrease in HR associated with the treatment in all five studies, and the change in HR was much smaller. 13 Nyström et al. results showed that in 18-week treatment with liraglutide, compared with glimepiride, in combination with metformin, there was significantly increased diurnal variation in hourly mean HR followed by an increase in mean day-time HR, with no effects on HRV. 23 The reduction of sinus tachycardia obtained by short-term treatment with propranolol in hyperthyroidism may be independent of the modification of HRV. 28
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia is a phenomenon, HRV is a result of pulmonary stretch receptors as a part of the parasympathetic input which synapse in the central nervous system before acting on the SA node. 29 Results showed that RR does not differ significantly at pretreatment and at different time points of treatment. Individuals using SSRIs had more frequent apneas and hypopneas during NREM sleep compared to non-medicated and those taking non-serotonergic anti-depressants. 30
Schroeder et al. suggest that there is a decline in HRV relatively early in the development of hypertension. HRV has emerged as a tool to quantitatively investigate cardiac autonomic dysregulation in hypertension. Results showed that fluoxetine and escitalopram had no significant effect on blood pressure in this study. 31
Controversy exists regarding the established frequency domain and time domain when it comes to their physiological interpretation and their psychometric properties like reliability, validity, and the sensitivity to cardiovascular properties of the variety of parameters seem to be a topic for further research. 25
Conclusion
Fluoxetine significantly increased HRV from baseline pretreatment value to the second and third months of treatment, whereas in the escitalopram group of participants, the third-month value of HRV increased compared to the first-month value of HRV. There is no statistically significant correlation between the HRV and serum potassium level at different time points suggesting that the effect of SSRIs on HRV was independent of the serum potassium level.
