Background & Aims
Recent literature has illustrated the impact of social determinants on health, including the association between perceived discrimination and chronic pain conditions. Cumulative lived discrimination as a state of chronic stress has also been correlated to adverse health outcomes, particularly in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Heart rate variability (HRV) has been used extensively as a valid measure of autonomic regulation of the CV system, and decreased HRV is highly correlated to chronic pain. However, there is little research on the impact of perceived discrimination on HRV in various pain states. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the presence and severity of pain, resting HRV, and lived discrimination, as measured by the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS).
Methods
Seventy-eight subjects of various pain stages (no pain, acute pain, chronic pain) completed a survey on an iPad while sitting quietly. Sociodemographic information was collected, along with the EDS and subjects’ rating of current, worst, least, and average pain on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). HRV was collected through a Polar H10 chest strap sensor for at least five minutes and raw interbeat interval HRV data were analyzed via the Elite HRV application. HRV variables high (HFP) and low-frequency power (LFP), LFP/HFP ratio, and average NPRS rating were extracted for analysis.
Results
Pearson’s correlation coefficients revealed a small but statistically significant positive association between average pain intensity and total EDS score (r = .22, p = .049). The association between total EDS score and HFP was nonsignificant (r = .02, p = .839), as was EDS and LFP (r = .17, p = .131), EDS and LFP/HFP ratio (r = -.03, p = .830).
Conclusions
These results support the concept that pain is a multidimensional biopsychosocial experience that manifests uniquely in each individual. While increased cumulative lived discrimination was associated with increased pain intensity, the manner in which pain and discrimination were reflected in HRV was not consistent with previous studies.
References
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Presenting Author
Karin Steere
Poster Authors
Karin Steere
DPT, PhD
University of Puget Sound
Lead Author
Kaitlyn Nguyen
University of Puget Sound
Lead Author
Ilsa Teppo
University of Puget Sound
Lead Author
Shannon Boyd
University of puget sound
Lead Author
Mimi Chiquet
University of Puget Sound
Lead Author
Kellie Hirotsu
University of Puget Sound
Lead Author
Olivia Saunders
University of Puget Sound
Lead Author
Topics
- Mechanisms: Psychosocial and Biopsychosocial