Ethnic differences in resting heart rate variability: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ethnic disparities in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are widely documented in the literature. Recently, research has shown that decreased parasympathetic cardiac modulation is associated with the established and emerging risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke. In consideration of the disproportionate CVD risk and disease profile of African Americans (AAs), it is plausible that decreased cardiac parasympathetic functioning may partially explain these disparities. In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, we assess the available evidence for a reliable ethnic difference in tonic vagally mediated heart rate variability (HRV), an indicator of parasympathetic cardiac modulation.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted yi

SUBMITTER: Hill LK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4293235 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature