AN INVESTIGATION OF HEART RATE VARIABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND ITS RELATION WITH FATIGUE AND KINESIOPHOBIA

Authors : Rabia Tuğba Tekin, Hilal Aslan, Gönül Vural

Pages : 125-131

Doi:10.52831/kjhs.1711721

View : 87 | Download : 165

Publication Date : 2025-12-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objective: Autonomic nervous system (ANS) involvement has been emphasized in the etiology of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and may be related to the common symptoms such as fatigue and kinesiophobia. This study was planned to investigate the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV), which is used as an indicator of autonomic functions, and fatigue and kinesiophobia in patients with MS. Method: The study was completed with fifty volunteer MS patients. In addition to participants\\\' disease duration, disability status was assessed using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), HRV with the Polar H10 model heart rate monitor, fatigue levels with the Fatigue Severity Scale, kinesiophobia levels with the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale, and pain levels with the Pain Perception Questionnaire. Results: No statistically significant correlation was found between HRV parameters and kinesiophobia and fatigue (p>0.05). Statistically significant relationships were observed between mean heart rate and EDSS score and disease duration (p<0.05) and between fatigue severity and kinesiophobia level and EDSS score (p<0.05). In addition, there were relationship between kinesiophobia level and pain intensity and disease duration (p<0.05) and between disease duration and EDSS score (p<0.05). Conclusion: HRV is not associated with kinesiophobia and fatigue in patients with MS, however kinesiophobia and fatigue are related symptoms seen in the disease. Although the results obtained from the current study indicate there is no relationship between the ANS and disease-related symptoms, ANS involvement in MS is well-established, and further research is valuable to explore its association with the clinical manifestations of the disease. Although the findings did not show a relationship between ANS indicators and symptoms, it is important to reevaluate this relationship with long-term follow-up and more comprehensive physiological measurements due to the complex ANS effects in MS.
Keywords : Multipl Skleroz, Otonom Sinir Sistemi, Yorgunluk, Kinezyofobi

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