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Cardiac dysautonomia and arterial distensibility in essential hypertensives

Maurizio Acampa1, Massimo Franchi, Francesca Guideri

  • 1Department of Clinical Medicine and Immunological Sciences, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. M.Acampa@ao-siena.toscana.it

Autonomic Neuroscience : Basic & Clinical
|January 6, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Sympathetic overactivity, indicated by heart rate variability (HRV), correlates with reduced arterial distensibility in hypertension patients. This suggests a key role for the sympathetic nervous system in essential hypertension and arterial stiffening.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Hypertension Research
  • Autonomic Nervous System Function

Background:

  • The sympathetic nervous system is implicated in essential hypertension.
  • Hypertension is linked to decreased large artery distensibility.
  • Cardiac dysautonomia and arterial distensibility may be correlated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the correlation between cardiac dysautonomia (using heart rate variability [HRV]) and altered artery distensibility (using the QKD interval) in patients with untreated hypertension.
  • To investigate the relationship between autonomic nervous system function and arterial stiffness in hypertensive individuals.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluated heart rate variability (HRV) using spectral analysis (VLF, LF, HF components) and QKD interval during 24-hour blood pressure monitoring.
  • Compared HRV and QKD interval measurements in 23 untreated hypertensive patients and 20 control subjects.
  • Calculated QKD(100-60) to standardize for blood pressure and heart rate.

Main Results:

  • Hypertensive patients with reduced QKD(100-60) showed lower total power and spectral components, with a higher LF/HF ratio compared to controls.
  • In hypertensive patients, QKD(100-60) significantly correlated with LF/HF ratio (r=-0.551, p=0.006), HF component (r=0.630, p=0.001), and total power (r=0.426, p=0.004).

Conclusions:

  • Sympathetic overactivity may contribute to the reduced arterial distensibility observed in essential hypertension.
  • Findings suggest a link between autonomic dysfunction and arterial stiffening in hypertensive patients.
Abstract

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