Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of the cyclical variations of beat-to-beat (RR) intervals that reflects cardiac autonomic function and sympathovagal balance. HF component indicates parasympathetic activity and LF component indicates sympathetic activity. It has been proposed that there is sympathetic dominance of cardiac function in postmenopausal women.

The aim of the study was to compare HRV and Estradiol levels in premenopausal and postmenopausal women

After getting clearance from Institutional Human Ethics Committee (IHEC) and Department of Clinical Research and Bioethics (DCRB) the subjects who fulfilled the  crireria for study was taken for ECG taking, HRV analysis, and Estradiol assay.

The statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 21 by unpaired Students t test. Analysis was done between the study group and control group. Both HRV and Estradiol levels were compared which gave the exact relationship between HRV and lack of Estrogen in the postmenopausal women.

P value < 0.5 was considered statistically significant.

The present study shows that there is sympathetic over activity in postmenopausal women denoted by elevated LF, and all the other parameters like Mean RR. SDNN, RMSSD, NN50, PNN50 were reduced showing increased sympathetic tone and increased propensity to cardiovascular diseases.

This effect will be due to reduced levels of Estrogen in Postmenopausal women

Keywords: Menopause, HRV, Autonomic functions.

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Dr Deepa Manuel

Assistant Professor, Dept of Physiology Karuna Medical College Vilayodi Chittur Palakkad 678103 Kerala, India

Phone number: 8825758534, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.