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Abstract: SA-PO401

Association of Diabetes with Heart Rate Variability in Hemodialysis

Session Information

Category: Dialysis

  • 801 Dialysis: Hemodialysis and Frequent Dialysis

Authors

  • Moloney, Brona, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  • Chertow, Glenn M., Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States
  • McCausland, Finnian R., Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Background

Autonomic dysfunction is common among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) receiving hemodialysis (HD) and may contribute to a higher risk of intra-dialytic hypotension. We explored the association of DM with heart rate variability (HRV; a surrogate of dysautonomia) and explored if HRV modified the relation between DM and intra-HD systolic blood pressure (SBP).

Methods

In a post hoc analysis of the Frequent Hemodialysis Network Daily Trial, we used: 1) random effects linear regression to estimate the association of DM (vs. none) with log-transformed low-frequency power [LF], high-frequency power [HF], LF/HF, and standard deviation of the R-R interval [SDNN] measured on a per-visit basis (baseline and 12-months); 2) linear regression to explore associations with changes in HRV parameters over 12 months. We performed mediation analyses to explore if the association of DM with intra-HD SBP was related to HRV. Models adjusted for age, sex, designated race, height, access, HD vintage, heart failure, pre-HD SBP, heart rate, ultrafiltration rate, hemoglobin, albumin, calcium blockers, diuretics, LV mass, and randomized treatment.

Results

Of patients with available data and without atrial fibrillation (n=198), 82 (41%) had DM. Median values for HRV parameters at baseline and 12 months are shown in Table 1. In adjusted random effects models, DM (vs. none) was not significantly associated with differences in LF 9% (95%CI -18, 46), HF 9% (95%CI -10, 32), or LF/HF -1% (95%CI -16,17), but was significantly associated with SDNN -18% (95%CI -26, -8). DM was not associated with a change from baseline to 12 months in any HRV parameter. In mediation analyses, HRV was estimated to mediate -8% (95%CI -52, 15) of the association between DM and nadir SBP.

Conclusion

DM (vs. none) was associated with 18% lower SDNN, a surrogate of overall heart rate variability, among participants of FHN on a per-session level. SDNN does not appear to mediate the association of DM with intra-dialytic nadir SBP.

Funding

  • NIDDK Support