Spirituality and Autonomic Cardiac Control |
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Authors: | Gary G Berntson Greg J Norman Louise C Hawkley John T Cacioppo |
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Institution: | (1) Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;(2) The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA |
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Abstract: | Background Spirituality has been suggested to be associated with positive health, but potential biological mediators have not been well
characterized.
Purpose and Methods The present study examined, in a population-based sample of middle-aged and older adults, the potential relationship between
spirituality and patterns of cardiac autonomic control, which may have health significance. Measures of parasympathetic (high-frequency
heart rate variability) and sympathetic (pre-ejection period) cardiac control were obtained from a representative sample of
229 participants. Participants completed questionnaires to assess spirituality (closeness to and satisfactory relationship
with God). Personality, demographic, anthropometric, health behavior, and health status information was also obtained. A series
of hierarchical regression models was used to examine the relations between spirituality, the autonomic measures, and two
derived indexes—cardiac autonomic balance (CAB, reflecting parasympathetic to sympathetic balance) and cardiac autonomic regulation
(CAR, reflecting total autonomic control).
Results Spirituality, net of demographics, or other variables were found to be associated with enhanced parasympathetic as well as
sympathetic cardiac control (yielding a higher CAR) but was not associated with CAB. Although the number of cases was small
(N = 11), both spirituality and CAR were significant negative predictors of the prior occurrence of a myocardial infarction.
Conclusions In a population-based sample, spirituality appears to be associated with a specific pattern of CAR, characterized by a high
level of cardiac autonomic control, irrespective of the relative contribution of the two autonomic branches. This pattern
of autonomic control may have health significance.
Funding was provided by the National Institute of Aging Grant No. PO1 AG18911 and the John Templeton Foundation. |
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Keywords: | Spirituality Sympathetic Parasympathetic pre-ejection period Heart rate variability Cardiac control Autonomic balance Myocardial infarction |
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