Derangement in autonomic functions with elevated blood pressure

Background: Prehypertension exhibits approximately 62% of cardiovascular disease and 49% of ischemic heart disease (IHD) global morbidity burden. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a fundamental noninvasive technique to assess the autonomic influence on cardiovascular system using time domain and frequency domain methods. We explored the effects of family history of hypertension, prehypertension and hypertension on autonomic functions amongst natives of Uttarakhand region. Methodology: This cross sectional analytical study was designed to explore effects of family history of hypertension, pre-hypertension and hypertension on autonomic functions on 100 subjects divided in four groups using HRV analysis. Results: Autonomic function Analysis of our results showed an increased sympathetic activity among family history of hypertension, pre-hypertension and hypertension as evident by a significant increase in Low frequency normalized unit (LFnu), an increased LF/HF ratio and a significantly reduced High frequency Normalized unit (HFnu) and E/I ratio (p<0.05)