Heart Rate Variability and Somatization in Adolescents With Irritable Bowel Syndrome 2023 Semen et al

Background/Aims
Changes in autonomic regulation and psychological distress play an important role in the pathobiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aim of the current study is to evaluate the autonomic function and to link it to the levels of somatization in adolescents with IBS.

Methods
We enrolled 30 adolescents with various types of IBS and 35 healthy controls. Time and frequency domain indexes of heart rate variability (HRV) were measured in supine (baseline) and standing (orthostasis) positions using short-term electrocardiographic recordings. The somatic symptoms index was assessed with the modified Screening for Somatoform Symptoms questionnaire.

Results
Adolescents with IBS showed no differences of HRV parameters in the supine position compared to healthy control. In orthostasis, a decrease in the standard deviation of normal RR intervals as well as main spectral index total power (TP) were observed. The reduction of TP was attributed to the reduced activities of the high- and low frequency components. Increased somatic symptoms index in IBS patients negatively correlated with TP in orthostasis (r = –0.485, P = 0.007). A subgroup analysis revealed that adolescents with IBS with TP values either < 2500 msec2 or > 5500 msec2 in the supine position demonstrated significantly reduced activity of the low frequency component.

Conclusions
Adolescents with IBS showed signs of autonomic dysfunction only during the orthostatic test, which were associated with increased somatization scores. Further research is needed to establish the links between emotional wellbeing and autonomic function in this population.

Open access, https://www.jnmjournal.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.5056/jnm22019

 

Changes in autonomic regulation and psychological distress play an important role in the pathobiology of irritable bowel syndrome. quite the statement so where is the evidence to back it up .

 

Added links.

Despite this paper being published in the Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, we're not going to discuss this further or even mention the word 'motility' again.

Mission accomplished.

Strangely no-one seems to discuss the possibility that (1) autonomic dysfunction and (2) psychoemotional distress might be linked, with 1 -> 2 or both independently following... oh I don't know... something like "triggered by the disorders of intestinal motility and production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines within the intestinal mucosa". It's always 2 -> 1.

 

Gotta love how for years it was "you can't use wikipedia as a source, anyone can write anything in there and many statements aren't backed up by anything", and then you find that it's basically standard in medicine to do just that, pass one's own opinion as if it's some fact, as long as that opinion is popular.

It sure is true that in most contexts, this is not allowed. Certainly in every other profession. Outside of work hours? Sure, whatever. On the clock? Nope. Nopitty nope. Great way to have either a short career, or get stuck in entry-level positions. In medicine? Elected president of all medicine, or whatever. It's absurd how different the standards are, how arbitrary.