Background and Aims: Due to the war in Ukraine, the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is increasing. PTSD is a significant social problem, as it is a serious risk factor for depression, suicide, and functional dysregulation of internal organs. This study aimed to analyze the results of a questionnaire and the clinical and paraclinical manifestations of PTSD.
Methods: A total of 172 people were evaluated, and 40 patients with PTSD were included in the study. Patients were aged 40-50 years with a BMI of 28.1±0.4 kg/m2. Glycated hemoglobin A1c, glucose, immunoreactive insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were measured. A digital ECG device with software to analyze heart rate variability (HRV), was used to record short-term ECG (5 minutes in the supine position and 6 minutes in the orthostatic test). These were used to figure out the time-domain and frequency-domain parameters of HRV.
Results: According to the obtained data, a high level of anxiety was recorded in 11 respondents (27.5%), an average level in 8 patients (20.0%), a moderate level in 9 people (22.5%), and a minimal level among 12 respondents (30.0%). The pattern of HRV changes shows that the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is suppressed (-11.9%, p<0.05), there is low overall spectral power, and the ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency bands goes up (+7.6%, p<0.05). This means that the sympathetic branch of the ANS is more dominant in people with PTSD. Patients with PTSD were characterized by higher HOMA-IR indices (5.1±0.7 vs. 2.4±0.6, p<0.001). Eight people with PTSD manifested newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Conclusions: PTSD is characterized by a disturbed HRV, an increased sympathetic response of the ANS, IR parameters, and an increased incidence of T2DM development. The obtained results provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the systemic consequences of PTSD.