New Study Links Nighttime Heart Rhythm Patterns to Future Health Risks
Research finds that variations in heart rate variability during sleep can predict future health conditions like stroke, depression, and metabolic diseases, opening new avenues for early intervention and prevention.
A comprehensive study conducted at the University Hospital of Bern analyzed over 4,170 individuals across more than 13,000 person-years to explore how variations in heart rate during sleep can forecast health outcomes. The research revealed that heart rate variability (HRV), which measures the fluctuations of time intervals between heartbeats, serves as a significant early indicator of future conditions such as stroke, depression, and cognitive decline.
HRV naturally fluctuates as the body responds to physical and emotional stimuli. During wakefulness, HRV is generally high due to activity, while during sleep—especially deep sleep—HRV drops, indicating a shift into a restorative state focused on recovery.
Interestingly, patterns in HRV were linked to specific health risks. Participants who later experienced strokes displayed unusually high and erratic HRV, whereas those who developed depression often showed low HRV. Additionally, altered HRV patterns with high variability were associated with metabolic, cardiovascular, and endocrine diseases.
The study's lead researcher, Dr. Irina Filchenko, emphasized that HRV reflects the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, which governs vital unconscious processes like breathing, digestion, and muscle tone. Monitoring HRV during sleep offers a window into the body's regulatory health.
Dr. Filchenko explained that nocturnal HRV provides valuable insights that traditional sleep tracking methods might overlook. Even individuals with seemingly normal sleep patterns can exhibit HRV changes signaling underlying risks. Advances in wearable technology could soon enable people to track HRV regularly, potentially allowing preemptive health interventions.
The findings underscore sleep’s role as an active process vital for long-term health, especially brain health. Recognizing subtle HRV patterns may help identify disease risks early, emphasizing the importance of viewing sleep as a dynamic state critical for maintaining overall well-being and preventing future health issues.
This research was presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress 2025. Future studies are expected to explore how improving HRV patterns might translate into better health outcomes and the potential for HRV monitoring as a routine part of personal health management.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-uncovers-link-nighttime-heart-rhythm.html
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