Nerve conduction and heart rate variability in patients with hypothyroidism at a tertiary care centre in eastern Nepal

Gupta, Shital; Khadka, Rita; Thakur, Dilip; Maskey, Robin; Mehta, K D; Paudel, Bishnu Hari

Article:
Nerve conduction and heart rate variability in patients with hypothyroidism at a tertiary care centre in eastern Nepal

creativeworkseries.issn	JNMA Print ISSN: 0028-2715; Online ISSN: 1815-672X
dc.contributor.author	Gupta, Shital
dc.contributor.author	Khadka, Rita
dc.contributor.author	Thakur, Dilip
dc.contributor.author	Maskey, Robin
dc.contributor.author	Mehta, K D
dc.contributor.author	Paudel, Bishnu Hari
dc.creator.affiliation	Department of Basic and Clinical Physiology, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
dc.creator.affiliation	Department of Basic and Clinical Physiology, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
dc.creator.affiliation	Department of Basic and Clinical Physiology, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
dc.creator.affiliation	Department of Internal Medicine, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
dc.creator.affiliation	Department of Biochemistry, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
dc.creator.affiliation	Department of Basic and Clinical Physiology, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
dc.date.accessioned	2026-09-17T09:04:34Z
dc.date.available	2026-09-17T09:04:34Z
dc.date.issued	2017
dc.description.abstract	Abstract Introduction: Thyroid hormone effects on many organs including central and peripheral nervous systems. However, these hormones do not affect all systems/organs to a similar extent. Thus, we conducted this study to explore the effect of thyroid hormones on somatic nervous system assessed by Nerve conduction study and cardiac autonomic activity assessed by heart rate variability. Methods: The study included newly diagnosed hypothyroid patients and healthy controls. In all subjects NCS were performed in median, ulnar, tibial and sural nerves using Nihonkohden machine Cardiac autonomic control was assessed using Short-term Heart Rate Variability and parameters were analyzed by Time Domain and Frequency Domain methods. Results: Both the groups were comparable in term of age, Body Mass Index, Pulse Rate, Systolic Blood Pressure and Diastolic Blood Pressure. Sensory parameters of NCS showed significant decrease in left median nerve SNAP amplitude (38.24Â±10.23 Vs 31.59Â±14.06, P=0.048) and nerve conduction velocity of bilateral median nerve in hypothyroid patients. In motor parameters of NCS, onset latencies of bilateral median nerves and right ulnar nerve were significantly increased in hypothyroid patients. All Time Domain measures of HRV and Frequency Domain measures; LF Power, HF Power and Total Power were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in hypothyroid patients. These HRV parameters are indicators of parasympathetic activity. Conclusions: In newly diagnosed hypothyroid patients, especially median nerve functions (both sensory and motor) and parasympathetic activity were decreased. It reflects that in hypothyroidism both autonomic nervous system and other somatic nerves are not affected in a similar extent. Keywords: Hypothyroidism; Heart rate variability; Nerve conduction study.
dc.identifier.doi	https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.3316
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14572/7733
dc.language.iso	en_US
dc.publisher	Nepal Medical Association
dc.subject	Hypothyroidism
dc.subject	Heart rate variability
dc.subject	Nerve conduction study
dc.title	Nerve conduction and heart rate variability in patients with hypothyroidism at a tertiary care centre in eastern Nepal
dc.type	Article
dspace.entity.type	Publication
local.article.type	Original Article
oaire.citation.endPage	411
oaire.citation.startPage	407
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