Abstract
Objective: Clinical indexes of autonomic activity are based on the analysis of sinus cycle length and of its variability. A common assumption underlying this practice is that neural activity and cycle length may be linearly related. Recent experimental evidence suggests that such an assumption may not be correct; indeed, the relation linking autonomic agonist concentration to cycle length was found to be strongly non-linear in single sinoatrial myocytes. In the present work, we (i) test compatibility of non-linearity of neural modulation of cycle length (CL) with previous experimental and clinical observations; (ii) evaluate its implications for what concerns the interpretation of time- and frequency-domain parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). Conclusions: Non-linearity of neural modulation of CL may result in an intrinsic rate-dependency of autonomic indexes, with the exception of normalised frequency-domain indexes (e.g. the low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio), which appear to be devoid of intrinsic rate-dependency. This characteristic may not limit the value of HRV indexes and BRS in risk stratification, but has to be taken into account in their pathophysiological interpretation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 434-442 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Cardiovascular Research |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2001 |
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Keywords
- Autonomic nervous system
- Baroreflex
- Heart rate (variability)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Cite this
Autonomic indexes based on the analysis of heart rate variability : A view from the sinus node. / Zaza, Antonio; Lombardi, Federico.
In: Cardiovascular Research, Vol. 50, No. 3, 06.2001, p. 434-442.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Autonomic indexes based on the analysis of heart rate variability
T2 - A view from the sinus node
AU - Zaza, Antonio
AU - Lombardi, Federico
PY - 2001/6
Y1 - 2001/6
N2 - Objective: Clinical indexes of autonomic activity are based on the analysis of sinus cycle length and of its variability. A common assumption underlying this practice is that neural activity and cycle length may be linearly related. Recent experimental evidence suggests that such an assumption may not be correct; indeed, the relation linking autonomic agonist concentration to cycle length was found to be strongly non-linear in single sinoatrial myocytes. In the present work, we (i) test compatibility of non-linearity of neural modulation of cycle length (CL) with previous experimental and clinical observations; (ii) evaluate its implications for what concerns the interpretation of time- and frequency-domain parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). Conclusions: Non-linearity of neural modulation of CL may result in an intrinsic rate-dependency of autonomic indexes, with the exception of normalised frequency-domain indexes (e.g. the low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio), which appear to be devoid of intrinsic rate-dependency. This characteristic may not limit the value of HRV indexes and BRS in risk stratification, but has to be taken into account in their pathophysiological interpretation.
AB - Objective: Clinical indexes of autonomic activity are based on the analysis of sinus cycle length and of its variability. A common assumption underlying this practice is that neural activity and cycle length may be linearly related. Recent experimental evidence suggests that such an assumption may not be correct; indeed, the relation linking autonomic agonist concentration to cycle length was found to be strongly non-linear in single sinoatrial myocytes. In the present work, we (i) test compatibility of non-linearity of neural modulation of cycle length (CL) with previous experimental and clinical observations; (ii) evaluate its implications for what concerns the interpretation of time- and frequency-domain parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). Conclusions: Non-linearity of neural modulation of CL may result in an intrinsic rate-dependency of autonomic indexes, with the exception of normalised frequency-domain indexes (e.g. the low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio), which appear to be devoid of intrinsic rate-dependency. This characteristic may not limit the value of HRV indexes and BRS in risk stratification, but has to be taken into account in their pathophysiological interpretation.
KW - Autonomic nervous system
KW - Baroreflex
KW - Heart rate (variability)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034997702&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0034997702&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0008-6363(01)00240-1
DO - 10.1016/S0008-6363(01)00240-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 11376619
AN - SCOPUS:0034997702
VL - 50
SP - 434
EP - 442
JO - Cardiovascular Research
JF - Cardiovascular Research
SN - 0008-6363
IS - 3
ER -