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Impact of physical activity on heart rate variability in children with type 1 diabetes

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Abstract

Objective

Children with type 1 diabetes are usually associated with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. The present study explored the influence of physical activity on their autonomic nervous function by measuring the heart rate variability (HRV).

Materials and methods

A total of 93 type 1 diabetic children and 107 healthy control subjects were enrolled. The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) was adopted to determine the physical activity level as low, moderate, or high activity. HRV was determined by frequency analysis and measured in both resting and active states.

Results

Children with type 1 diabetes had significantly lower HRV than that of healthy control subjects in resting state but not in active state. The decreased HRV in diabetic children was observed only in subjects with low physical activity. The HRV in diabetic children with moderate to high physical activity, however, was not different from that of their healthy controls.

Conclusions

Diabetic children should be encouraged to engage in physical activity with more intensity, which can benefit their autonomic nervous function. Nevertheless, the potential risk of vigorous activity still needs our concern.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to extend sincere appreciation to the children who participated in the study. In addition, we are thankful to Mackay Memorial Hospital (94MMH-TMU-04) who funded this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Su-Ru Chen

  2. College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, No.250, Wuxing St., **nyi District, Taipei, 110, Taiwan

    Su-Ru Chen & Chii Jeng

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Yann-**n Lee

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Yann-**n Lee

  5. Graduate Institute of Medical Informatics, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Hung-Wen Chiu

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  1. Su-Ru Chen
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  2. Yann-**n Lee
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  4. Chii Jeng
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Correspondence to Chii Jeng.

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Chen, SR., Lee, YJ., Chiu, HW. et al. Impact of physical activity on heart rate variability in children with type 1 diabetes. Childs Nerv Syst 24, 741–747 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-007-0499-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-007-0499-y

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