High-Frequency Heart Rate Variability is Prospectively Associated with Sleep Complaints in a Healthy Working Cohort

Abstract

Abstract Objective Vagus nerve functioning, as indexed by high frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), has been implicated in a wide range of mental and physical health conditions, including sleep complaints. To test associations between HF-HRV measured during sleep (sleep HF-HRV) and subjective sleep complaints 4 years later. Methods One hundred forty three healthy employees (91% Male; MAge = 47.8 years (time 2), SD = 8.3) of an industrial company in Southern Germany completed the Jenkins Sleep Problems Scale, participated in a voluntary health assessment, and were given a 24-hour ambulatory heart rate recording device in 2007. Employees returned for a health assessment and completed the Jenkins Sleep Problems Scale 4 years later. Results Hierarchical regression analyses showed that lower sleep HF-HRV measured in 2007 was associated with higher self-reported sleep complaints 4 years later after controlling for covariates (r ab,c = -.096, b = -.108, 95 % CI [-.298, .081], Δ R2 = .009, p = 0.050). Conclusions These data are the first to show that lower sleep HF-HRV predicted worse sleep 4 years later, highlighting the importance of vagus nerve functioning in adaptability and health.