INFLUENCE OF PRE MENSTRUAL SYNDROME ON AUTONOMIC FUNCTIONS OF HEART IN YOUNG ADULT FEMALES – A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze the role of autonomic activity by heart rate variability (HRV) during different phases of menstrual cycle in subject with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in SRM medical college hospital and research center for 6 months (November 2017 to April 2018). Sixty young female subjects with regular menstrual history aged between 18 and 25 years of age were recruited in this study after obtaining ethical committee clearance. The subjects were categorized into mild and moderate PMS according to Premenstrual Syndrome Scale. This study includes 30 subjects in each category. HRV was done by Physiopac, the “Medicaid” system during the various phases of the menstrual cycle. Statistical analysis was done by t-test (paired and independent sample test). Results: The mean heart rate (<0.005), low frequency (LF) power normalized unit (n.u) (<0.001), and LF high frequency (HF) ratio (<0.001) were significantly increased in the luteal phase whereas the mean RR interval (<0.008), standard deviation of normal to the normal (<0.05), RMSSD (<0.037), HF power n.u (0.054), and total power (<0.055) were significantly reduced in the luteal phase of moderate PMS when compared to the luteal phase of mild PMS. Conclusion: Disturbances in the balance of autonomic function in the late luteal phase might be responsible for the psychological and somatic changes in women with PMS.