Life activities improve heart rate variability in patients with mild hypertension and/or the initial stage of heart failure

Aims and objectives To determine the effects on heart rate variability of home‐based daily activity in patients with mild hypertension and/or stable angina pectoris and to clarify the relationship between daily activity and sympathovagal balance. Background Several prior studies have assessed the ability of exercise training to improve functional capacity and produce beneficial effects on mortality and physical capacity in patients with cardiovascular disease. Design A non‐randomised six‐month prospective longitudinal study. Methods This study consisted of 41 patients (59–83 years old) with mild hypertension and/or stable angina pectoris. The home‐based daily activity and heart rate variability were measured at the start of the study (BASE) and six months after the start of the study (6MoA). At 6MoA, the active mass increased in 23 patients (the IC group), while it decreased in the remaining 18 patients (the DC group). Results There were significant increases in the high‐frequency component in the IC group between the data at BASE and 6MoA. There were significant decreases in the low frequency to high‐frequency ratio (low frequency/high‐frequency) during sleep in the IC group between the data at BASE and 6MoA. The active mass was classified into life activities and walk activities in terms of intensity of activity. In a multivariate model, increased life activitiesrevealed a trend towards an association with increased high‐frequency. Conclusions In patients with mild hypertension and/or stable angina pectoris, an increase in active mass improved heart rate variability outcomes with increased high‐frequency and decreased low frequency/high‐frequency during sleep. To increase life activitiesmight improve heart rate variability and prognosis in patients. Relevance to clinical practice This study demonstrated that the potential importance of low‐intensity daily activities in patients with mild hypertension and/or stable angina pectoris.