The Effect Of A Needle Stick On Resting Heart Rate Variability: 1385 Board #38 June 2, 8: 00 AM - 9: 30 AM

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2016

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate alterations of cardiac autonomic control through heart rate variability (HRV) during and following a phlebotomy procedure among apparently healthy individuals. METHODS: A total of 33 participants, nine males (23.1 ± 3.0 yrs) and 24 females (22.5 ± 3.3 yrs) underwent a phlebotomy procedure while undergoing short-term analysis of HRV. Testing procedure included a 10-minute analysis of HRV prior to the needle stick (PRE), a 1-minute phlebotomy procedure and an additional 10-minute analysis of HRV following the needle stick. The log transformation of the time domain Root Mean Squared of Successive Differences (lnRMSSD) was used to quantify vagal tone. RESULTS: Repeated measures ANOVA revealed several significantly different time points following PRE values. The Stick time point was significantly lower than PRE (1.69 ± 0.23 ms2 vs. 1.63 ± 0.26 ms2; p <0.05), while time points 2-min (1.76 ± 0.22 ms2), 4-min (1.74 ± 0.25 ms2), 5-min (1.74 ± 0.24 ms2), 6-min (1.75 ± 0.23 ms2), 8-min (1.74 ± 0.24 ms2), and 9-min (1.74 ± .24 ms2) where significantly elevated from PRE (p <0.05). lnRMSSD returned to base line by 10-min and was not significantly different from PRE values (1.69 ± 0.23 ms2 vs. 1.72 ± 0.24 ms2; p = 0.214). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that alterations in vagal tone occur as a result of a phlebotomy procedure. During the phlebotomy procedure a withdrawal of vagal tone occurs, followed by a subsequent vagal rebound, resulting in a temporary state of elevated HRV. It is recommended that investigators consider the timing of phlebotomy procedures when measuring HRV.

Journal Title

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

Journal ISSN

1530-0315

Volume

48

Issue

5S

First Page

366

Last Page

366

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1249/01.mss.0000486110.80986.2b

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