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The role of vagal function in the risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality
Julian F Thayer1, Richard D Lane
1Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. thayer.39@osu.edu
Insights
Reduced vagal function, a measure of the body's autonomic nervous system, is linked to higher risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death. Improving vagal function may help lower CVD risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of death and disability.
- Understanding CVD risk factors is crucial for prevention, etiology, and treatment.
- Vagal function plays a significant role in cardiovascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence linking vagal function to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and mortality.
- To explore the relationship between vagal function and various CVD risk factors.
- To investigate the temporal relationship between vagal function and risk factor development.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of studies on vagal function indicators (heart rate, heart rate recovery, heart rate variability, baroreflex sensitivity).
- Analysis of associations between decreased vagal function and CVD morbidity/mortality.
- Examination of links between vagal function and traditional, emerging, modifiable, and non-modifiable risk factors.
Main Results:
- Decreased vagal function is independently associated with increased CVD morbidity and mortality.
- Reduced vagal function correlates with both traditional and emerging CVD risk factors.
- Decreased vagal function often precedes the development of other risk factors.
- Improvements in risk profiles are linked to enhanced vagal function.
Conclusions:
- Vagal function is a significant predictor of cardiovascular disease risk and mortality.
- Vagal dysfunction is interconnected with a wide range of CVD risk factors.
- The concept of neurovisceral integration offers a framework for understanding CVD risk factors, including psychosocial influences.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. The understanding of the risk factors for CVD may yield important insights into the prevention, etiology, course, and treatment of this major public health concern. We review the evidence for the role of vagal function in the risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality. Using a broad range of indicators of vagal function including resting heart rate, heart rate recovery, heart rate variability, and baroreflex sensitivity we show that decreased vagal function is associated with an increased risk for morbidity and mortality. These effects are independent of traditional risk factors. Moreover, we show that decreased vagal function is associated with both traditional and emerging risk factors as well as modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. Most importantly, we provide evidence to support the notion that decreased vagal function precedes the development of a number of risk factors and that modification of risk profiles in the direction of lower risk is associated with increased vagal function. We close with a brief overview of the neural concomitants of vagal function and suggest that a model of neurovisceral integration may provide a unifying framework within which to investigate the impact of risk factors, including psychosocial factors, on cardiovascular disease.
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