biostudies-literatureBlok-Husum LSteno Diabetes Center Aarhus (SDCA)100252https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10945952biostudies-literatureUnknown26<h4>Study objective</h4>This study investigated whether schizophrenia and the duration of schizophrenia were associated with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) by using heart rate variability (HRV) as a marker.<h4>Design</h4>Cross-sectional study.<h4>Setting</h4>The examinations were conducted at the Centre for Psychosis Research and at the Department of Cardiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.<h4>Participants</h4>240 patients with first-episode and chronic schizophrenia and 180 controls.<h4>Interventions</h4>CAN was assessed by the cardiovascular reflex tests (CARTs): HR, RS ratio, E:I ratio, and VM using a handheld device.<h4>Main outcome measures</h4>One abnormal CART was interpreted as borderline CAN and ≥2 abnormal CARTs established definitive CAN. Borderline CAN and definitive CAN together was categorized as overall CAN. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, smoking, overweight, and hypercholesterolemia.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 240 patients with schizophrenia (median age 42.5 [28.8, 52.3], 42.9 % women) and 180 controls (median age 45.8 [24.0, 60.1], 47.8 % women) were included, with 50.8 % of patients with schizophrenia having overall CAN compared to 27.2 % among controls. Dividing patients into patients with first-episode and chronic schizophrenia, 32.9 % vs 10 % (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and 59.1 % vs 41 % (p < 0.001) had overall CAN compared with controls, respectively. Schizophrenia was significantly associated with overall CAN (OR, 2.80; 95%CI, 1.75-4.50), with an OR of 2.31 (95%CI, 1.14-4.68) for first-episode schizophrenia and an OR of 2.97 (95%CI, 1.81-4.87) for chronic schizophrenia.<h4>Conclusion</h4>It was demonstrated that a diagnosis of schizophrenia was associated with CAN. Patients with chronic schizophrenia had a significantly higher prevalence of CAN compared to patients with first-episode schizophrenia, suggesting an association between the duration of schizophrenia and CAN.American heart journal plus : cardiology research and practiceCardiovascular autonomic reflex tests using a handheld device in the diagnosis of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in patients with schizophrenia.PMC10945952321Fleischer JBlok-Husum LNielsen REJensen SELaugesen EKragholm KPolcwiartek CBrcelic MARBassi HKFKfalseCardiovascular autonomic reflex tests using a handheld device in the diagnosis of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in patients with schizophrenia.<h4>Study objective</h4>This study investigated whether schizophrenia and the duration of schizophrenia were associated with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) by using heart rate variability (HRV) as a marker.<h4>Design</h4>Cross-sectional study.<h4>Setting</h4>The examinations were conducted at the Centre for Psychosis Research and at the Department of Cardiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.<h4>Participants</h4>240 patients with first-episode and chronic schizophrenia and 180 controls.<h4>Interventions</h4>CAN was assessed by the cardiovascular reflex tests (CARTs): HR, RS ratio, E:I ratio, and VM using a handheld device.<h4>Main outcome measures</h4>One abnormal CART was interpreted as borderline CAN and ≥2 abnormal CARTs established definitive CAN. Borderline CAN and definitive CAN together was categorized as overall CAN. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, smoking, overweight, and hypercholesterolemia.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 240 patients with schizophrenia (median age 42.5 [28.8, 52.3], 42.9 % women) and 180 controls (median age 45.8 [24.0, 60.1], 47.8 % women) were included, with 50.8 % of patients with schizophrenia having overall CAN compared to 27.2 % among controls. Dividing patients into patients with first-episode and chronic schizophrenia, 32.9 % vs 10 % (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and 59.1 % vs 41 % (p < 0.001) had overall CAN compared with controls, respectively. Schizophrenia was significantly associated with overall CAN (OR, 2.80; 95%CI, 1.75-4.50), with an OR of 2.31 (95%CI, 1.14-4.68) for first-episode schizophrenia and an OR of 2.97 (95%CI, 1.81-4.87) for chronic schizophrenia.<h4>Conclusion</h4>It was demonstrated that a diagnosis of schizophrenia was associated with CAN. Patients with chronic schizophrenia had a significantly higher prevalence of CAN compared to patients with first-episode schizophrenia, suggesting an association between the duration of schizophrenia and CAN.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Feb2026-06-24T03:14:20.014Z2025-04-07T00:15:04.425ZS-EPMC109459523851018510.1016/j.ahjo.2023.100252