Objective: The aim of this study was to assess cardiac autonomic modulation in postmenopausal women with and without dry eye syndrome (DES) and to identify associations between clinical and socioeconomic factors.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the Institute of Ocular Surgery of the Northeast (ICONE), Brazil. Convenience sample of postmenopausal women, over 40 years old, who were divided into two groups: with and without DES. Clinical, sociodemographic, and ophthalmological characteristics of these women were assessed. Capture of RR intervals was performed using a cardio frequency meter. Differences between the groups were analyzed using the Chi-square test, the Student's t test, and the Mann-Whitney test.
Results: Women with DES were present in 60.4% (n=58), highest median age (63.5 years, 95%CI 62.0-67.9; p<0.001), median length of time menopause (19 years old, 95%CI 10.4-24.0; p<0.001). There was a difference in the standard deviation of all normal-to-normal index between the groups. However, when the differences were adjusted to the clinical model, no association was found between DES and heart rate variability (HRV).
Conclusions: The analysis of cardiac autonomic modulation in postmenopausal women is similar in the presence or absence of DES. Clinical factors, time of menopause, and intensity of symptoms were not associated with HRV indices.