Autonomic dysfunction in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy: studies of heart rate variability

Summary Background: The presence of autonomic dysfunction in HIV patients is largely unknown. Early studies found autonomic dysfunction in patients with AIDS. Introduction of highly active antiretroviral combination therapy (ART) has dramatically changed the course of the disease and improved prognosis and decreased morbidity. At present it is not known whether introduction of ART also has decreased autonomic dysfunction. Aim: To evaluate whether autonomic dysfunction is present in an ART‐treated HIV population. Methods: HIV patients receiving ART for at least 3 years (n = 16) and an age‐matched control group of healthy volunteers (n = 12) were included. All were non‐smokers, non‐diabetic and had never received medication for dyslipidaemia or hypertension. Following a 10 min resting period a 5 min ECG recording was performed. Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis was performed in accordance with current guidelines and data reported as median (interquartile range). Results: The resting heart rate was higher in HIV patients compared with controls [69 (62–74) versus 57 (52–60); P