Correlation of leptin levels with heart rate variability in young adolescent females with normal body mass index

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) measure is emerging as the most important predictor of various cardiovascular disease .Heart rate variability has been related to almost all the factors which directly affects the HRV measures. However, at present with increasing incidence of cardiovascular disease in subjects with normal BMI, body mass index seems to have least role in determining the cardiovascular risk. It is a known fact that leptin receptors are found in the heart as well as in the blood vessels. Objective: The present study was done to measure the heart rate variability in young adolescent girls, correlate the HRV parameters with leptin levels. Materials & Methods: Forty (40) young adolescent females of age group 17 – 19 years with normal BMI and regular menstrual cycle were included in the study. Body Mass Index was calculated using height and weight. Resting Heart rate and Blood Pressure were measured .ECG was recorded in lead II using RMS Polyrite –D to determine the Heart rate variability measures LF,HF and LF/HF ratio. ECG recording was done on the second day of menstrual cycle. 5 ml of intravenous blood was collected to estimate the leptin levels in all the subjects Results: A positive trend was observed between LF values and leptin levels ( r= 0.140), Negative trend was observed between HF values and leptin levels (r= - 0.138), BMI had a slight positive correlation with leptin levels ( r= 0.02) .