Autonomic nervous system activity is impaired in anemic patients with various etiology such as vitamin B12 deficiency, thalasemia major and sickle cell trait however there are insufficient data about autonomic function in patient with iron deficiency anemia in general population study
Aim: In present study we aimed to investigate the relationship between serum ferritin level and heart rate variability (HRV).
Patients and methods: This is case control study of 20 patients with iron deficiency anemia (case subject) and 20 healthy subject.
ECG record was used for studying HRV; we used serum level of iron, ferritin, iron binding capacity, C reactive protein, vitamin B12 and folate to exclude other causes of anemia.
Result: Age, gender, vitamin B12, folate and serum electrolyte were not different between the groups, HRV value were lower in patients with iron deficiency anemia compared to control group.
Heart rate of study group (116±19) was significantly greater than control group (78±19, P< 0.05), Hb, HCT, MCV and ferritin value were significantly lower in study group than in control group (8.5±2.3 vs 13.2±0.4, P<0.05 30.1±1.1 vs 41.2±1.1, P<0.05, 67.3±2.1 vs 84.5±2.4, P<0.05, 5.1±0.4 vs 97±6.5, P<0.05 respectively).
SDNN, SDANN and RMSSD were significantly lower in study group than in control group (116±38 vs 139±41, P<0.05 96±32 vs 122±38, P<0.05 23±12 vs 29±11, P=0.26 respectively)
Conclusion: Lower serum ferritin is associated with lower HRV putting anemic patient at high cardiac risk.
Heart rate variability; Autonomic function; Iron deficiency anemia; Electrocardiographic