Analysis of 24-hour heart rate variations in patients with epilepsy receiving antiepileptic drugs

Abstract Objective The goal of the study described here was to evaluate interictal heart rate variability (HRV) in young patients with epilepsy, a patient population in whom sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is known to be more common. Methods Twenty-four-hour ambulatory ECG Holter recordings of 37 patients (15–40 years old) and 32 healthy controls were compared. Results All of the time domain indices (SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD, and HRV triangular index) were significantly suppressed ( P nu, P nu and LF/HF ratio, P  10 years were independent variables associated with a reduction in SDNN. Conclusion Our data suggest that the major determinants of suppressed SDNN are polytherapy and epilepsy duration > 10 years. Analysis of spectral measures of frequency domain indices suggests that an increased sympathetic tone in association with a decreased parasympathetic tone may constitute the mechanism underlying SUDEP in young people with epilepsy.