Abstract
Baroreflex function measured as baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) mirrors an integrated capacity of the autonomic
nervous system. We aimed to assess the relationship between measures of BRS and age and relevant clinical
characteristics.
80 subjects participating in the Copenhagen City Heart study (43 women) with a mean age of 59 ± 11 years
(range 41-79 years) were included. Baroreceptor activity was quantified through the Valsalva manoeuvre (VM) and
as a spontaneous function. BRS was tested against age, gender, smoking status, body size and predicted risk of
coronary heart disease based on the Framingham score.
BRS was found to decline with age, but this change disappeared when correcting for the age related increase in
systolic blood pressure. We found that the VM-derived indices of sympathetic vascular control declined with age as
did the vagally controlled heart rate changes in response to deep breathing and VM. We could not demonstrate any
correlation between BRS, smoking status, and body size when adjusting for age and gender, whereas spontaneous
BRS was reduced with increasing Framingham risk score. Principal component analysis revealed three component
explaining 69% of the total variance in our population comprising one component reflecting the sympathetic activity,
the parasympathetic system, and the integrated spontaneous BRS, respectively. The parasympathetic component
was the only one correlating with clinical characteristics of declining age, smoking habits, systolic blood pressure
and Framingham score.
It is concluded that the parasympathetic and sympathetic parts of the baroreflex arch behave differently with
respect to aging and cardiovascular risk factors. The most prominent changes are seen in cardiovagal control
whereas the effects of age related changes in sympathetic vascular control are less noticeable. Our study supports
the use of the cardiovagal part of the baroreflex arch as an indicator of cardiovascular risk.
nervous system. We aimed to assess the relationship between measures of BRS and age and relevant clinical
characteristics.
80 subjects participating in the Copenhagen City Heart study (43 women) with a mean age of 59 ± 11 years
(range 41-79 years) were included. Baroreceptor activity was quantified through the Valsalva manoeuvre (VM) and
as a spontaneous function. BRS was tested against age, gender, smoking status, body size and predicted risk of
coronary heart disease based on the Framingham score.
BRS was found to decline with age, but this change disappeared when correcting for the age related increase in
systolic blood pressure. We found that the VM-derived indices of sympathetic vascular control declined with age as
did the vagally controlled heart rate changes in response to deep breathing and VM. We could not demonstrate any
correlation between BRS, smoking status, and body size when adjusting for age and gender, whereas spontaneous
BRS was reduced with increasing Framingham risk score. Principal component analysis revealed three component
explaining 69% of the total variance in our population comprising one component reflecting the sympathetic activity,
the parasympathetic system, and the integrated spontaneous BRS, respectively. The parasympathetic component
was the only one correlating with clinical characteristics of declining age, smoking habits, systolic blood pressure
and Framingham score.
It is concluded that the parasympathetic and sympathetic parts of the baroreflex arch behave differently with
respect to aging and cardiovascular risk factors. The most prominent changes are seen in cardiovagal control
whereas the effects of age related changes in sympathetic vascular control are less noticeable. Our study supports
the use of the cardiovagal part of the baroreflex arch as an indicator of cardiovascular risk.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Artikelnummer | 3 |
| Tidsskrift | Journal of Hypertension |
| Vol/bind | 3 |
| Udgave nummer | 3 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 1-7 |
| Antal sider | 7 |
| ISSN | 0263-6352 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - 2014 |