Title Heart rate variability in individuals with autism spectrum disorders: A meta-analysis.
Author Cheng, Ying-Chih; Huang, Yu-Chen; Huang, Wei-Lieh
Journal Neurosci Biobehav Rev Publication Year/Month 2020-Nov
PMID 32818581 PMCID -N/A-
Affiliation + expend 1.Department of Psychiatry, China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital, China Medical University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Department of Public Health and Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Research Center of Big Data and Meta-analysis, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Heart rate variability (HRV) in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been investigated in some studies but the procedures and results vary. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare HRV in individuals with and without ASD; the influence of different conditions and HRV indices is considered. Baseline HRV and HRV reactivity were analyzed in several ways: parasympathetic indices in hierarchical order (main analysis), total variability, specific parasympathetic indices and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), etc. The review covered 34 studies for quantitative analysis. Individuals with ASD had a significantly lower baseline HRV for parasympathetic indices in hierarchical order (Hedges\'g=-0.5168, p < 0.0001) and RSA (g=-0.5860, p=0.0010). The reactivity of HRV in situations of social stress (g=-0.4647, p = 0.0033) and social debriefing (g=-0.5001, p = 0.0007) was also significantly lower in subjects with ASD. RSA reactivity was significantly lower in ASD group for all situations, with the largest effect size for social stress (g=-0.7246, p < 0.0001). The results support low HRV to be a potential biomarker of ASD, especially RSA reactivity under social stress.

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