Summary
Comprehensive review finds HRV alterations more pronounced in patients with both COPD and sleep apnea (overlap syndrome), with wearable-derived HRV showing potential as a screening tool.
Methods
Comprehensive review of HRV in OSA, COPD, and overlap syndrome
Key Findings
- Overlap syndrome shows synergistic autonomic dysfunction
- 1.7x greater risk of acute exacerbations vs COPD alone
- Short-term HRV particularly sensitive to autonomic changes
- Wearables viable for screening in overlap syndrome
- CPAP therapy efficacy can be evaluated via HRV
Limitations
Review of existing literature
What This Means for You
If you have both COPD and sleep apnea, HRV tracking is especially valuable—your autonomic dysfunction compounds. Monitoring HRV can help track treatment effectiveness, particularly with CPAP therapy.
Source
Read the original paper in Journal of Clinical Medicine ↗
Added to HRV Zone: 2026-01-23