Assessment of the cardiac autonomic nervous system in mercury-exposed individuals via post-exercise heart rate recovery.

Author: Yilmaz OH, Karakulak UN, Tutkun E, Bal C, Gunduzoz M, Ercan Onay E, Ayturk M, Tek Ozturk M, Alaguney ME.

Source: Medical Principles and Practice.

Year: 2016

Comment:

Abstract / Excerpt:

Results: The mercury-exposed and control groups were similar in age (37.2 ± 6.6 vs. 36.9 ± 9.0 years), had an identical gender distribution (16 females and 12 males) and similar left ventricular ejection fractions (65.5 ± 3.1 vs. 65.4 ± 3.1%). The mean HRR1 [25.6 ± 6.5 vs. 30.3 ± 8.2 beats per min (bpm); p = 0.009], HRR2 (43.5 ± 5.3 vs. 47.8 ± 5.5 bpm; p = 0.010) and HRR3 (56.8 ± 5.1 vs. 59.4 ± 6.3 bpm; p = 0.016) values were significantly lower in the mercury-exposed group than in the healthy controls. However, there were no significant correlations between blood, urine and hair mercury levels and exercise test parameters. Conclusions: Mercury-exposed individuals had lower HRR indices than normal subjects. In these individuals, mercury exposure measurements did not show correlations with the exercise test parameters, but age did show a negative correlation with these parameters. Therefore, cardiac autonomic functions might be involved in cases of mercury exposure.

Citation: Yilmaz OH, Karakulak UN, Tutkun E, Bal C, Gunduzoz M, Ercan Onay E, Ayturk M, Tek Ozturk M, Alaguney ME. Assessment of the cardiac autonomic nervous system in mercury-exposed individuals via post-exercise heart rate recovery. Medical Principles and Practice. 2016; 25(4):343-9.