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Original Research (Preprint)

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2025): Regular Issue

Heart Rate Variability Normative Values in Mongolian Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Submitted
December 23, 2025
Published
December 31, 2025

Abstract

Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects autonomic nervous system function, yet normative data for Mongolian adults are limited. This study establishes short-term HRV normative values, stratified by gender and age.

From July 2020 to August 2023, this cross-sectional study enrolled 1,144 adults (413 men, 731 women; aged 18–68 years) from Ulaanbaatar and four Mongolian regions. Participants underwent physical examinations, completed validated Mongolian-language patient-reported outcome measures (HADS, PSQI, WHOQOL-BREF, MMSE, and BOS), and 5-minute HRV recordings while seated. Time-domain (SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50) and frequency-domain (LF, HF, LF/HF) metrics were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests (p < 0.05).

Participants had a mean age of 37.9 ± 11.1 years (63.9% women). Women exhibited higher median heart rate (80 ± 10 bpm vs. 74 ± 12 bpm, p < 0.01) and HF power (42.9 ± 18.1 nu vs. 39.6 ± 17.6 nu, p = 0.150). SDNN (37.2 ± 18.4 ms) and RMSSD (29.0 ± 16.7 ms) declined with age (p < 0.001). Parasympathetic metrics (pNN50, HF) were higher in women and younger groups. Age and gender significantly shape HRV in Mongolian adults, with time-domain metrics decreasing with age. These normative values support epidemiological and clinical research.

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