Cardiac Vagal Control and Depressive Symptoms in Response to Negative Emotional Stress. In: Pokorski M, editor. Pulmonary Dysfunction and Disease. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2016. pp. 23-30. [DOI: 10.1007/5584_2016_17]

Brain-heart interaction disruption in major depressive disorder: disturbed rhythm modulation of the cardiac cycle on brain transient theta bursts

Brain neurons support arousal and cognitive activity in the form of spectral transient bursts and cooperate with the peripheral nervous system to adapt to the surrounding environment. However, the temporal dynamics of brain-heart interactions have not been confirmed, and the mechanism of brain-heart interactions in major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear. This study aimed to provide direct evidence for brain-heart synchronization in temporal dynamics and clarify the mechanism of brain-heart interaction disruption in MDD. Eight-minute resting-state (closed eyes) electroencephalograph and electrocardiogram signals were acquired simultaneously. The Jaccard index (JI) was used to measure the temporal synchronization between cortical theta transient bursts and cardiac cycle activity (diastole and systole) in 90 MDD patients and 44 healthy controls (HCs) at rest. The deviation JI was used to reflect the equilibrium of brain activity between diastole and systole. The results showed that the diastole JI was higher than the systole JI in both the HC and MDD groups; compared to HCs, the deviation JI attenuated at F4, F6, FC2, and FC4 in the MDD patients. The eccentric deviation JI was negatively correlated with the despair factor scores of the HAMD, and after 4 weeks of antidepressant treatment, the eccentric deviation JI was positively correlated with the despair factor scores of the HAMD. It was concluded that brain-heart synchronization existed in the theta band in healthy individuals and that disturbed rhythm modulation of the cardiac cycle on brain transient theta bursts at right frontoparietal sites led to brain-heart interaction disruption in MDD.

Antidepressant prescription in acute myocardial infarction is associated with increased mortality 1 year after discharge

AIMS

To assess the impact of antidepressant (AD) prescription at discharge on 1-year outcome of patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Switzerland.

METHODS

We used data from the AMIS Plus registry including patients admitted between March 2005 and August 2016 with AMI to a Swiss hospital who were followed up by telephone, 12 months after discharge. We compared patients who received AD medication at discharge with those who did not, with regard to baseline characteristics and outcomes in 1-year follow-ups using logistic regression. Outcome endpoints included mortality, re-hospitalisation, cerebrovascular events, re-infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass graft as well as pacemaker and/or cardioverter-defibrillator implantations. Additionally, work and daily life conditions were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

Among 8911 AMI patients, 565 (6.3%) received AD at discharge. These patients were predominantly female, older, experienced more often non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, were in higher Killip classes, and had more frequently hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, obesity and comorbidities. They underwent less frequently PCI, and stayed in hospital longer. The AD-receiving group had higher crude all-cause mortality at 1-year follow-up than the non-receiving group (7.4% vs 3.4%; p < .001) and AD prescription was an independent predictor for mortality (OR 1.67; CI: 1.17 to 2.40).

CONCLUSION

AD medication at discharge was associated with poorer prognosis in AMI patients at 1-year follow-up. However, this study has limited data on depression diagnosis and drug classes. Further research is needed to pinpoint the causes and underlying pathomechanisms for the higher mortality observed in this patient group.

Influence of Heart Rate, Age, and Gender on Heart Rate Variability in Adolescents and Young Adults

Key autonomic functions are in continuous development during adolescence which can be assessed using the heart rate variability (HRV). However, the influence of different demographic and physiological factors on HRV indices has not been fully explored in adolescents. In this study we aimed to assess the effect of age, gender, and heart rate on HRV indices in two age groups of healthy adolescents (age ranges, 13-16 and 17-20 years) and two groups of healthy young adults (21-24 and 25-30 years). We addressed the issue using 5-min ECG recordings performed in the sitting position in 255 male and female participants. Time, frequency, and informational domains of HRV were calculated. Changes in HRV indices were assessed using a multiple linear regression model to adjust for the effects of heart rate, age, and gender. We found that heart rate produced more significant effects on HRV indices than age or gender. There was a progressive reduction in HRV with increasing age. Sympathetic influence increased with age and parasympathetic influence progressively decreased with age. The influence of gender was manifest only in younger adolescents and young adults. In conclusion, age, gender, and particularly heart rate have a substantial influence on HRV indices, which ought to be considered to avoid biases in the study of the autonomic nervous system development. The lack of the gender-related effects on HRV indices in late adolescence could be related to non-completely achieved maturity of the autonomic mechanisms, which deserves further exploration.

Maternal depression during pregnancy is associated with increased birth weight in term infants

Previous research of maternal depression during pregnancy suggests an association with low birth weight in newborns. Review of these studies reveals predominant comorbidity with premature birth. This current study examines antenatal depression and birth weight in term, medically low-risk pregnancies. Maternal physiological and demographic measures were collected as well. In total, 227 pregnant women were recruited to participate in four experimental protocols at Columbia University Medical Center. Results indicate that depressed pregnant women who carry to term had significantly higher heart rates, lower heart rate variability, and gave birth to heavier babies than those of pregnant women who were not depressed. Low income participants had significantly higher levels of depression, as well as significantly higher heart rates and lower heart rate variability, than those in higher income groups. In full-term infants, maternal prenatal depression appears to promote higher birth weight, with elevated maternal heart rate as a likely mediating mechanism.