Heart rate variability during sleep in children with autism spectrum disorder

Purpose Autonomic dysfunction has been reported in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Less is known about autonomic function during sleep in ASD. The objective of this study is to provide insight into the autonomic cardiovascular control during different sleep stages in ASD. We hypothesized that patie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical autonomic research 2016-12, Vol.26 (6), p.423-432
Main Authors: Harder, René, Malow, Beth A., Goodpaster, R. Lucas, Iqbal, Fahad, Halbower, Ann, Goldman, Suzanne E., Fawkes, Diane B., Wang, Lily, Shi, Yaping, Baudenbacher, Franz, Diedrich, André
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Autism Spectrum Disorder - physiopathology
Autonomic Nervous System - physiopathology
Cardiology
Child
Child, Preschool
Diabetes
Endocrinology
Female
Gastroenterology
Heart Rate
Humans
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Neurology
Ophthalmology
Polysomnography
Research Article
Sleep
Sleep Stages
Sleep, REM
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Summary:Purpose Autonomic dysfunction has been reported in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Less is known about autonomic function during sleep in ASD. The objective of this study is to provide insight into the autonomic cardiovascular control during different sleep stages in ASD. We hypothesized that patients with ASD have lower vagal and higher sympathetic modulation with elevated heart rate, as compared to typical developing children (TD). Methods We studied 21 children with ASD and 23 TD children during overnight polysomnography. Heart rate and spectral parameters were calculated for each vigilance stage during sleep. Data from the first four sleep cycles were used to avoid possible effects of different individual sleep lengths and sleep cycle structures. Linear regression models were applied to study the effects of age and diagnosis (ASD and TD). Results In both groups, HR decreased during non-REM sleep and increased during REM sleep. However, HR was significantly higher in stages N2, N3 and REM sleep in the ASD group. Children with ASD showed less high frequency (HF) modulation during N3 and REM sleep. LF/HF ratio was higher during REM. Heart rate decreases with age at the same level in ASD and in TD. We found an age effect in LF in REM different in ASD and TD. Conclusion Our findings suggest possible deficits in vagal influence to the heart during sleep, especially during REM sleep. Children with ASD may have higher sympathetic dominance during sleep but rather due to decreased vagal influence.
ISSN:0959-9851
1619-1560
DOI:10.1007/s10286-016-0375-5