Heart Rate Variability Changes in Elderly Patients with Depression: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Depression is a prevalent and serious mood disorder that affects a person's mood and daily activities, often leading to severe symptoms. Beyond its impact on mood, depression can also dysfunctions in the autonomic nervous system function, particularly in elderly individuals, where such dysfunctions often complicate management and outcomes. Evaluating the autonomic nervous system in those diagnosed with depression is crucial for understanding the disease’s progression. One non-invasive method for quantitatively assessing ANS is the computerized analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Studies examining HRV changes in individuals with depression have yielded varied results. Although age is known to influence HRV, there is a lack of sufficient studies in the geriatric population. This systematic review aimed to examine HRV changes in elderly individuals diagnosed with depression. Among the 688 studies reviewed from databases including Wiley, Web of Science, Springer Link, Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, APA PsycArticles and The Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) databases from 2017 to 10/09/2024, three randomized controlled studies met the inclusion criteria. Our systematic review found that different meditation and exercise programs applied to elderly depression patients may have varying effects on autonomic nervous system and HRV parameters. However, we did not find any study comparing HRV parameters between elderly depression patients and healthy controls, which was the primary focus of our review. This key limitation underscores the significant gap in the existing literature. Given the high prevalence of depression in older age groups, more research is needed in this area.