Mura F, Patron E, Messerotti Benvenuti S, Gentili C, Ponchia A, Del Piccolo F, Palomba D. The moderating role of depressive symptoms in the association between heart rate variability and cognitive performance in cardiac patients.
J Affect Disord 2023;
340:139-148. [PMID:
37544481 DOI:
10.1016/j.jad.2023.08.022]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is strongly associated with cognitive impairment, which is a core feature of depression, highly prevalent in patients with CHD. Interestingly, patients with CHD and individuals with depression display reduced heart rate variability (HRV), which proxies a complex network integrating autonomic and attentional systems. This study investigated the moderating role of depressive symptoms in the relation between reduced HRV and cognitive performance in patients with CHD.
METHOD
The sample included 274 patients with CHD (mean [standard deviation] age = 62 [9.5] years; 13 % women) admitted to cardiac rehabilitation units. Visual attention and task switching were assessed through the Trail Making Test (TMT). Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Resting electrocardiographic recordings were collected to compute HRV indices.
RESULTS
Patients with more severe depressive symptoms displayed an inverse association between HRV and cognitive performance (TMT-A: b = -0.08, p = .022; TMTB: b = -0.07, p = .042), whereas patients with milder depressive symptoms showed no significant association (TMT-A: b = -0.00, p = .90; TMTB: b = -0.02, p = .44).
CONCLUSIONS
Depressive symptoms may strengthen the relation between reduced HRV and poorer cognitive performance in cardiac patients. The presence of depressive symptoms may signal the dysfunction of a network subserving autonomic and cognitive function.
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