Repeatability of Spectral Components of Short-Term Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Variability during Acute Sympathetic Activation in Healthy Young Male Subjects

1997 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laure Cloarec-Blanchard ◽  
Christian Funck-Brentano ◽  
Margorzata Lipski ◽  
Patrice Jaillon ◽  
Isabelle MacQuin-Mavier

1. Changes in the low-frequency (LF) components of blood pressure and heart rate variability and in the ratio of LF to high-frequency (HF) components of heart rate variability (LF/HF ratio) are used to assess acute changes in sympathetic control of blood pressure or heart rate and in sympathovagal balance that occur in response to physiological or pharmacological stimuli. Before these spectral indexes can be used to assess the effects of drug therapy or other clinical interventions on reflex sympathetic activity, their repeatability must be evaluated. 2. Intra-observer repeatability was studied by analysing changes in the LF components (expressed as absolute or normalized units) of cardiovascular variability and in the LF/HF ratio during sympathetic activation induced by nitroglycerin infusion (n = 10 subjects) or 60° head-up tilt (n = 13 subjects) repeated on two occasions, 2 days and 1 week apart respectively, in healthy young male volunteers. Repeatability was estimated as recommended by Bland and Altman. 3. Bland and Altman's plots of the repeatability of changes in the LF components and LF/HF ratio showed that measurements were sufficiently repeatable to be used over periods of time of up to 1 week in clinical studies. 4. The sample-size tables derived from our results show that expression of spectral components as normalized units, and use of a cross-over design, minimize the number of subjects to be included in clinical studies conducted using similar designs and LF component changes as endpoints.

2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (4) ◽  
pp. R1502-R1509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Castiglioni ◽  
Marco Di Rienzo ◽  
Arsenio Veicsteinas ◽  
Gianfranco Parati ◽  
Giampiero Merati

It is still unclear whether the low-frequency oscillation in heart rate is generated by an endogenous neural oscillator or by a baroreflex resonance. Our aim was to investigate this issue by analyzing blood pressure and heart rate variability and the baroreflex function in paraplegic subjects with spinal cord injury below the fourth thoracic vertebra. These subjects were selected because they represent a model of intact central neural drive to the heart, with a partially impaired autonomic control of the vessels. In our study, arterial blood pressure and ECG were recorded in 33 able-bodied controls and in 33 subjects with spinal cord lesions between the fifth thoracic and the fourth lumbar vertebra 1) during supine rest (lowest sympathetic activation), 2) sitting on a wheelchair (light sympathetic activation), and 3) during exercise (moderate sympathetic activation). Blood pressure and heart rate spectra, coherence, and baroreflex function (sequence technique) were estimated in each condition. Compared with controls, paraplegic subjects showed a reduction of the low-frequency power of blood pressure and heart rate, and, unlike controls, a 0.1-Hz peak did not appear in their spectra. Sympathetic activation increased the 0.1-Hz peak of blood pressure and heart rate and the coherence at 0.1 Hz in controls only. Paraplegic subjects also had significantly lower baroreflex effectiveness and greater blood pressure variability. In conclusion, the disappearance of the 10-s oscillation of heart rate and blood pressure in subjects with spinal cord lesion supports the hypothesis of the baroreflex nature of this phenomenon.


Author(s):  
Arundhati Goley ◽  
A. Mooventhan ◽  
NK. Manjunath

Abstract Background Hydrotherapeutic applications to the head and spine have shown to improve cardiovascular and autonomic functions. There is lack of study reporting the effect of either neutral spinal bath (NSB) or neutral spinal spray (NSS). Hence, the present study was conducted to evaluate and compare the effects of both NSB and NSS in healthy volunteers. Methods Thirty healthy subjects were recruited and randomized into either neutral spinal bath group (NSBG) or neutral spinal spray group (NSSG). A single session of NSB, NSS was given for 15 min to the NSBG and NSSG, respectively. Assessments were taken before and after the interventions. Results Results of this study showed a significant reduction in low-frequency (LF) to high-frequency (HF) (LF/HF) ratio of heart rate variability (HRV) spectrum in NSBG compared with NSSG (p=0.026). Within-group analysis of both NSBG and NSSG showed a significant increase in the mean of the intervals between adjacent QRS complexes or the instantaneous heart rate (HR) (RRI) (p=0.002; p=0.009, respectively), along with a significant reduction in HR (p=0.002; p=0.004, respectively). But, a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p=0.037) and pulse pressure (PP) (p=0.017) was observed in NSSG, while a significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p=0.008), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) (p=0.008) and LF/HF ratio (p=0.041) was observed in NSBG. Conclusion Results of the study suggest that 15 min of both NSB and NSS might be effective in reducing HR and improving HRV. However, NSS is particularly effective in reducing SBP and PP, while NSB is particularly effective in reducing DBP and MAP along with improving sympathovagal balance in healthy volunteers.


1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (1) ◽  
pp. H213-H219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael V. Højgaard ◽  
Niels-Henrik Holstein-Rathlou ◽  
Erik Agner ◽  
Jørgen K. Kanters

Frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) has been proposed as a semiquantitative method for assessing activities in the autonomic nervous system. We examined whether absolute powers, normalized powers, and the low frequency-to-high frequency ratio (LF/HF) derived from the HRV power spectrum could detect shifts in autonomic balance in a setting with low sympathetic nervous tone. Healthy subjects were examined for 3 h in the supine position during 1) control conditions ( n = 12), 2) acute β-blockade ( n = 11), and 3) chronic β-blockade ( n = 10). Heart rate fell during the first 40 min of the control session (72 ± 2 to 64 ± 2 beats/min; P < 0.005) and was even lower during acute and chronic β-blockade (56 ± 2 beats/min; P < 0.005). The powers of all spectral areas rose during the first 60 min in all three settings, more so with β-blockade ( P < 0.05). LF/HF was found to contain the same information as powers expressed in normalized units. LF/HF detected the shift in autonomic balance induced by β-blockade but not the change induced by supine position. In conclusion, none of the investigated measures derived from power spectral analysis comprehensively and consistently described the changes in autonomic balance.


1995 ◽  
Vol 268 (6) ◽  
pp. H2239-H2245 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Grimm ◽  
R. E. DeMeersman ◽  
R. P. Garofano ◽  
A. M. Spungen ◽  
W. A. Bauman

This study investigated heart rate variability (HRV) in individuals with quadriplegia who have disruption of autonomic control of the heart. Seven male subjects with neurological complete quadriplegia and seven with incomplete quadriplegia were studied at rest and during provocation. HRV was measured by power spectral analysis using a fast Fourier transform. Two spectral components were generated: 1) the high-frequency (HF) peak, a reflection of parasympathetic activity, and 2) the low-frequency (LF) peak, primarily sympathetic activity with some parasympathetic input. Results of the provocative maneuvers were grouped into one composite variable. Significant differences in the LF spectral component were found between the groups with complete and incomplete lesions in the supine position and after provocation (LF supine: P = 0.01; LF provocation: P = 0.002). After provocation, significant differences were demonstrated in the HF spectral component between these groups (P = 0.005). In contrast to previous findings, a LF component in subjects with complete quadriplegia was observed; this LF component decreased after provocation, suggesting the parasympathetic component withdrew during stressful maneuvers. There also appeared to be general downregulation of parasympathetic activity to the heart in subjects with complete quadriplegia. The presence of an increased LF spectral component during provocation in those with incomplete lesions implies sympathetic stimulation of the heart and may be used as a marker of sympathetic activity in individuals with quadriplegia.


Cephalalgia ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 504-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
M De Marinis ◽  
S Strano ◽  
M Granata ◽  
C Urani ◽  
S Lino ◽  
...  

Twenty-four hour ECG Holter and blood-pressure monitorings were performed in eight patients suffering from cluster headache. Spectral analysis of heart-rate fluctuation was used to assess the autonomic balance under basal conditions, after head-up tilt, and during a spontaneous attack. Normal autonomic balance was found at rest and during sympathetic activation obtained with head-up tilt in the interparoxysmal period. Before the onset of headache, an increase in the low-frequency (LF) component of the power spectrum was apparent in all patients. This sign of sympathetic activation was followed by an increase in the high-frequency (HF) component that developed about 2000 beats after the onset of headache and rapidly overcame the LF component until the end of pain. Significant differences were found when comparing the spectral parameters [total spectral values (TP), power of the LF and HF components and LF/HF ratio] obtained before, during and after headache. During the attack, blood pressure increased and heart rate decreased in all subjects. There appears to be a primary activation of both sympathetic and parasympathetic functions in cluster headache attacks. The sympathetic component seems to be involved mostly in the development of the attack, whereas the parasympathetic activation seems to occur, following the onset of the attack, independently of the pain.


2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (7) ◽  
pp. 803-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Hsien Lin ◽  
Yia-Ping Liu ◽  
Yu-Chieh Lin ◽  
Po-Lei Lee ◽  
Che-Se Tung

Rapid immersion of a rat’s limbs into 4 °C water, a model of cold stress, can elicit hemodynamic perturbations (CEHP). We previously reported that CEHP is highly relevant to sympathetic activation and nitric oxide production. This study identifies the role of nitric oxide in CEHP. Conscious rats were pretreated with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME (NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester) alone or following the removal of sympathetic influences using hexamethonium or guanethidine. Rats were then subjected to a 10 min cold-stress trial. Hemodynamic indices were telemetrically monitored throughout the experiment. The analyses included measurements of systolic blood pressure; heart rate; dicrotic notch; short-term cardiovascular oscillations and coherence between blood pressure variability and heart rate variability in regions of very low frequency (0.02–0.2 Hz), low frequency (0.2–0.6 Hz), and high frequency (0.6–3.0 Hz). We observed different profiles of hemodynamic reaction between hexamethonium and guanethidine superimposed on L-NAME, suggesting an essential role for a functional adrenal medulla release of epinephrine under cold stress. These results indicate that endogenous nitric oxide plays an important role in the inhibition of sympathetic activation and cardiovascular oscillations in CEHP.


Author(s):  
Б.И. Кузник ◽  
Ю.Н. Смоляков ◽  
Е.С. Гусева ◽  
С.О. Давыдов ◽  
И.В. Файн

Цель исследования - выявление взаимосвязи между показателями вариабельности сердечного ритма (ВСР), кровяным давлением и гемодинамическими функциями у женщин, страдающих гипертонической болезнью (ГБ) и находящихся на медикаментозной терапии (ГБ-1), либо в дополнение к этому, проходящих регулярные курсы кинезитерапии (ГБ-2). Методика. Наблюдения проведены на 72 женщинах, страдающих артериальной гипертензией II стадии. В группу ГБ-1 вошли 37 женщин с ГБ, находящихся на медикаментозной терапии, в группу ГБ-2 - 35 женщин с ГБ, которые, помимо медикаментозной терапии, регулярно проходили на протяжении 2-3 лет по 3-4 полуторамесячных курса кинезитерапии (управляемые умеренные физические нагрузки). Для изучения гемодинамики был использован датчик динамического рассеяния света (miniature Dynamic Light Scattering - mDLS) от Elfi-Tech (Rehovot, Israel), измеряющий сигналы, инициированные кожным кровотоком, и использующий методику разложения сигнала на частотные компоненты, связанные с разными гемодинамическими источниками. Из пульсовой компоненты mDLS сигнала извлекалась информация о вариабельности RR-интервалов и рассчитывались индикаторы вариабельности сердечного ритма. Введен показатель «гемодинамический индекс» (Hemodynamic Index - HI). Зависимость HI от скорости сдвига интерпретируется путем сопоставления каждой полосе частот определенной скорости сдвига (HI1 - низкочастотный, HI2 - промежуточный, HI3 - высокочастотный). Использованы следующие относительные (RHI, Relative Hemodynamic Index) и осцилляторные (OHI, Oscillatory Hemodynamic Indexes) гемодинамические индексы: нейрологический (NEUR), Майера (MAYER), дыхательный (RESP) и пульсовой (PULSE). ВСР показатели включали: HR (Heart Rate), PWR (Power) - общую мощность колебаний, LF (Low Frequency), HF (High Frequency), SDNN (Standard Deviation of the Normal-to-Normal), RMSSD (Root Mean Square of the Successive Differences), а также индексы: CVI (Cardiac Vagal Index) и CSI (Cardiac Sympathetic Index). Результаты. У женщин, находящихся исключительно на медикаментозной терапии (ГБ-1), выявляются отрицательные взаимосвязи LF и LF/HF с систолическим, средним и пульсовым давлением. При ГБ-2 проявляются отрицательные связи PWR, LF, HF с пульсовым давлением. При ГБ-1 обнаружены положительные взаимосвязи между HR и гемодинамическими индексами HI1, RHI2 и отрицательная взаимосвязь с RHI3, а также между RMSSD и RHI3 и между HF и HI1/HI3. У пациенток ГБ-2 обнаружена отрицательная корреляция SDNN и RHI1, а также PWR и RHI1; положительные взаимосвязи между PWR и HI2, HI3, RHI2, HF и RHI3 и LF/HF с HI1/HI3; отрицательные связи HF c HI1/HI3 и с RHI1, а также между LF/HF и RHI3, CSI и RHI3. У больных ГБ-1 имеются прямые связи между SDNN, PWR, LF, HF, CVI и NEUR_HI1, что свидетельствует о действии этих факторов на эндотелиальный кровоток (HI1). В группе ГБ-2 установлено наличие лишь положительных связей между LF, HF и NEUR_HI3. У больных ГБ-1 на уровень АД влияют все без исключения осцилляторные ритмы, которые могут оказывать как отрицательное (с MAYER_HI1, PULSE_HI2), так и положительное (MAYER_HI2, RESP_HI3) влияние. У больных ГБ-2 взаимосвязи АД с осцилляторными индексами не обнаружены. Заключение. Уменьшение в группе ГБ-2 по сравнению с больными группы ГБ-1 числа факторов, влияющих на АД и гемодинамику, носит более совершенный и благоприятный характер, что и обеспечивает более быструю и устойчивую нормализацию артериального давления. Aim. To study the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure and hemodynamic functions in women with essential hypertension (EH) receiving a drug therapy alone (EH-1) or in combination with regular courses of kinesitherapy (EH-2). Methods. The study included 72 women with EH. The EH-1 group consisted of 37 women with stage II arterial hypertension. The EH-2 group consisted of 35 women with stage II arterial hypertension who underwent 3-4 1.5-month courses of kinesitherapy (controlled moderate physical activity) on a regular basis for 2-3 years. Hemodynamics was studied with a miniature Dynamic Light Scattering (mDLS) sensor from Elfi-Tech (Rehovot, Israel), which measures signals initiated by the skin blood flow by decomposing the signal into frequency components associated with different hemodynamic sources. Information on the RR interval variability was extracted from the pulse component of mDLS signal, and indicators of heart rate variability were calculated. A Hemodynamic Index (HI) was introduced. The HI dependence on shear rate was interpreted by matching each frequency band with a specific shear rate (HI1, low-frequency; HI2, intermediate; HI3, high-frequency). The following relative (RHI, Relative Hemodynamic Index) and oscillatory (OHI, Oscillatory Hemodynamic Indexes) indexes were used: neurological (NEUR), Mayer (MAYER), respiratory (RESP), and pulse (PULSE) ones. The HRV indexes included HR (Heart Rate), PWR (Power, total oscillation power), LF (Low Frequency), HF (High Frequency), SDNN (Standard Deviation of the Normal-to-Normal), RMSSD (Root Mean Square of the Successive Differences). CVI (Cardiac Vagal Index), and CSI (Cardiac Sympathetic Index). Results. In women who were on drug therapy alone (EH-1), negative relationships were found for LF and LF/HF with systolic, mean and pulse pressure. For EH-2, PWR, LF, and HF negatively correlated with pulse pressure. For EH-1, HR positively correlated with the hemodynamic indices HI1 and RHI2 and negatively correlated with RHI3; RMSSD negatively correlated with RHI3; and HF negatively correlated with HI1/HI3. For patients with EH-2, negative correlations were observed for SDNN and RHI1, PWR and RHI1; positive correlations were found between PWR and HI2; HI3, RHI2, HF and RHI3; and between LF/HF and HI1/HI3. HF negatively correlated with HI1/HI3 and with RHI1. LF/HF negatively correlated with RHI3, and CSI negatively correlated with RHI3. In patients with EH-1, SDNN, PWR, LF, HF, CVI, and NEUR_HI1 were directly related, which indicated an effect of these factors on the endothelial blood flow (HI1). In the EH-2 group, only positive correlations were found between LF, HF, and NEUR_HI3. In EH-1 patients, all oscillatory rhythms influenced BP; this influence could be both negative (for MAYER_HI1, PULSE_HI2) and positive (for MAYER_HI2, RESP_HI3). In EH-2 patients, no relationship was found between blood pressure and oscillatory indices. Conclusion. The smaller number of factors influencing blood pressure and hemodynamics in the EH-2 group compared to the EH-1 group was more beneficial and favorable, which ensured faster and steadier normalization of blood pressure.


2005 ◽  
Vol 133 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 484-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danijela Zamaklar-Trifunovic ◽  
Petar Seferovic ◽  
Mirjana Zivkovic ◽  
Vera Jelic ◽  
Goran Vukomanovic ◽  
...  

Introduction. Autonomic regulation of cardiovascular functions in congestive heart failure is characterised by enhanced sympathetic and diminished parasympathetic activity. The long term predominance of sympathetic tone is a significant factor in arrhythmogenesis, sudden cardiac death, and progressive pump failure. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a noninvasive method for estimating the sympatho vagal balance in cardiovascular control. Aim. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of heart failure severity on HRV. Method. HRV was estimated through the spectral analysis of short term ECG (Cardiovit AT 60, Schiller, CH) in 63 patients (78% male, mean age 56.9?10.9 years) and 14 healthy volunteers (57.1% male, mean age 53.1?8.2 years). The following spectral components were measured: VLF (very low frequency), LF (low frequency), HF (high frequency), and total power (Tot Power). Results. All spectral components were statistically, significantly lower in patients with heart failure in comparison to healthy controls (VLF: 159.89?147.02 vs. 285.50?202.77 ms2; p=0.023, LF: 161.48?204.01 vs. 474.57?362.93 ms2; p<0.001, HF: 88.58?102.47 vs. 362.71?318.28 ms2; p<0.001), as well as total power (Tot Power: 723.39?644.52 vs. 1807.29?1204.74 ms2; p<0.001). A significant, negative correlation between HRV parameters and NYHA class was detected in heart failure patients (VLF: r=-0.391; p=0.002, LF: r=-0.401; p=0.001, and Tot Power r=-0.372; p=0.003). Ejection fraction proved to be in significant, positive correlation to VLF (r=0.541; p=0.002), LF (r=0.531; p=0.003), HF (r=0.418; p=0.020), and Tot Power (r=0.457; p=0.013). Conclusion. Significant HRV reduction is a precursor to incipient heart failure (NYHA I). In heart failure progression, total power as well as the power of all spectral components is progressively reduced. LF and Tot Power are the most prominent parameters for discriminating between the different stages of heart failure. These results could promote HRV as an important decision-making tool in heart failure treatment as well as in monitoring the results of that treatment.


Author(s):  
Rama Lakshman ◽  
Ana-Mishel Spiroski ◽  
Lauren B. McIver ◽  
Michael P. Murphy ◽  
Dino A. Giussani

Work in preclinical animal models has established that pregnancy complicated by chronic fetal hypoxia and oxidative stress programmes cardiovascular dysfunction in adult offspring. Translating this to the human condition comes with challenges, including the early diagnosis of affected individuals to improve clinical outcomes. We hypothesize that components of programmed cardiovascular dysfunction in offspring can be identified in vivo via analysis of blood pressure variability and heart rate variability and that maternal treatment with the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ is protective. Pregnant rats were exposed to normoxia or hypoxia (13% O 2 ) ±MitoQ (500 μM in water), from 6 to 20 days gestation. Offspring were maintained in normoxia postnatally. At 16 weeks of age, 1 male per litter was instrumented with vascular catheters and a femoral blood flow probe under isoflurane anesthesia. After recovery, arterial blood pressure and femoral flow were recorded in conscious, free-moving rats and analyzed. Offspring of hypoxic pregnancy had (1) increased very-low-frequency blood pressure variability (A) and heart rate variability (B), indices consistent with impaired endothelial function and (2) increased heart rate variability low/high-frequency ratio (C) and low-frequency blood pressure variability (D), indices of cardiac and vascular sympathetic hyperreactivity, respectively. MitoQ ameliorated A and B but not C and D. We show that asymptomatic cardiovascular dysfunction in adult offspring programmed by hypoxic pregnancy can be diagnosed in vivo by blood pressure variability and heart rate variability, suggesting that these noninvasive biomarkers could be translated to the clinical setting. MitoQ protected against programmed endothelial dysfunction but not sympathetic hyperreactivity, highlighting the divergent programming mechanisms involved.


SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A177-A177
Author(s):  
H Tsai ◽  
T Kuo ◽  
C Yang

Abstract Introduction Insomnia is a risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular events, and this association is strongest for sleep-onset insomnia. However, little is known about insomnia on cardiovascular modulation, especially soon after morning awakening, the peak period of time for cardiovascular incidents. This study explored morning cardiovascular function in individuals with sleep-onset insomnia by analysing heart rate variability, blood pressure variability, and baroreflex sensitivity. Methods Sleep structure of the participants (15 good sleepers and 13 individuals with sleep-onset insomnia) was measured by laboratory polysomnography, followed by continuous recordings of the participant’s blood pressure and heart rate for 10 min in the morning. Results When compared to the good sleepers, the insomnia group showed significant reductions in total sleep time, a longer sleep-onset latency, and reduced sleep efficiency. The sleep structure, including durations of sleep stages, numbers of awakenings and arousal index did not differ between the groups. After morning awakening (averaged time: 12.33 ± 10.48 min), the shorter R-R intervals, lower total power, and lower high-frequency power of heart rate variability were observed among individuals with sleep-onset insomnia, compared with good sleepers. Elevated slopes of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as lower baroreflex sensitivity, were also shown in the insomnia group. Indices of sympathetic activity, including low-frequency percentage of heart rate variability or low-frequency power of blood pressure variability, did not differ between the groups. Conclusion Weak vagal activity and blunted baroreflex sensitivity were evident among sleep-onset insomnia. These findings indicate difficulty in initiating sleep, without significant sleep fragmentation, can independently affect morning cardiovascular function. This study provides a possible link between sleep-onset insomnia and risk of cardiovascular events. Support N/A


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