Heart rate fluctuation related to periodic limb movement during sleep in patients with Parkinson disease

Objective To study the changes of heart rate (HR) related to periodic limb movement during sleep (PLMS) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods Five patients with PD plus PLMS (case group) and another 11 patients with idiopathic PLMS (control group) who had undergone polysomnography (PSG) in Xinjiang Military Command General Hospital from March 2014 to September 2015 were enrolled in our study. Limb movement related HR was compared between the two groups. In detail, the R-R intervals of heart rate were measured before 5 beats (T_-5-T_-1), onset and after 19 beats (T₊₁-T₊₁₉) of each PLMS. HR at different time points and global HR change pattern were explored in each group. HR and HR variability amplitude were compared between two groups. Results HR didn't change significantly before PLMS onset in case group (P=0.231), while HR of control group elevated significantly at T_-1 (P < 0.001). In both case and control groups, HR showed a significant change before and after PLMS onset. HR were significantly different between case and control groups at multiple time points including T₊₁-T₊₅ and T₊₁₂-T₊₁₈ (all P< 0.05). Conclusion Periodic limb movement related HR fluctuation demonstrates similar patterns in both patients with PD plus PLMS and idiopathic PLMS patients. However, patients with PD plus PLMS have smaller amplitude in HR change and greater duration of tachycardia than idiopathic PLMS patients.