Objective: The main objective of our study was directed to investigate the presence of gender differences in cardiovascular dysmodulation among patients affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD). In this regard, we performed a study of heart rate variability (HRV) with the attempt to investigate these differences.

Background: Previous studies have reported the presence of gender differences in the clinical profile of PD patients. Although PD is commonly considered as a movement disorder, non-motor disturbances, and among them cardiovascular symptoms, represent a frequent cause of disability in PD patients. To date, specific differences between male and female PD patients in cardiovascular modulation have not been extensively examined.

Methods: An HRV study was performed in two groups of PD patients subdivided for sex (13 male and 12 female patients) matched for age and duration of disease. A control group of 24 healthy subjects matched for age and gender was also enrolled. A 24-hour ambulatory ECG recording was performed in all the patients and control subjects. Among the HRV spectral parameters in the frequency domain, the values of low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF), were assessed and expressed in normalised units (nu). The ratio of LF/HF power was also evaluated. Circadian modifications were also registered. Motor impairment and disability were assessed using the UPDRS part-III and the Hoehn & Yahr staging.

Results: Male PD patients showed a significant reduction of LF values both with respect to the control group (LF nu 46,75±12,95 vs 62,22±14,79; p<0,01) and to the group of female PD patients (LF nu 46,75±12,95 vs 55,28±9,81; p<0,01). Furthermore, HRV study showed a significant reduction of LF/HF in male PD patients with respect to female PD patients (1,64±0,72 vs 2,36±0,85; p<0,01). No significant differences were detected among male and female patients in HF parameter in the 24 hours.

Conclusions: We have identified the presence of specific gender differences in cardiovascular modulation among PD patients without orthostatic hypotension. These results confirm the importance of the accurate detection of gender differences in PD patients. In this regard, the presence of specific gender differences in cardiovascular dysmodulation might be useful to better predict the onset of possible dysautonomic symptoms and to improve pharmacological treatment, preventing cardiovascular side effects of dopaminergic drugs.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/gender-differences-in-heart-rate-variability-among-patients-affected-by-parkinsons-disease/