Heart rate variability (HRV) is a physiological phenomenon which reflects the influence of the autonomic nervous system on the heart work. Likewise acute MI, acute ischemic stroke leads to autonomic dysbalance and lowered HRV. However, literature relevant data on autonomic dysbalance after the acute phase of ischemic stroke.

The aim of this study was to assess the level of autonomic dysbalance in patients after the acute phase of ischemic stroke.

This prospective study included 54 consecutive patients who had suffered ischemic stroke (31 men and 23 women, mean age 54±11years) and 54 age-matched healthy control subjects (37 men and 17 women, mean age 51±6years). In the acute phase of the disease, along with clinically manifest neurologic deficit, there is ischemic hemispheric lesion verified by computed tomography (CT) scan. Lesion of the left and right cerebral hemisphere was detected in 51% and 49% of patients, respectively. Twenty-four hour Holter ECG was performed 58±23days after the stroke (14±5days from the beginning of rehabilitation). HRV was analyzed from the Holter ECG data. The values of the HRV parameters in stroke patients were compared with those recorded in the control group.

Patients who had suffered an ischemic stroke had a significantly lower overall HRV and shorter mean RR interval than healthy subjects from the control group: SDNN 96±27 vs. 136±31ms, P<0.001; TP 1962±1338 vs. 3968±2857ms, P<0.001; and mean RR 869±104 vs. 892±117ms, P=0.02.

As in MI, the values of HRV stay significantly lower after the acute phase of the disease in patients who have suffered ischemic stroke compared to healthy persons of the same age.