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Body Mass Index but not Physical Activity Level Moderates Lowered Cardiac Baroreflex Sensitivity in People Living
Marcus Vinicius Dos Santos Rangel1,2, Juliana Pereira Barros1,2, Deysiane Peres3
1Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, Institute of Physical Education and Sports, University of Rio de Janeiro State, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL.
Insights
People living with HIV (PLHIV) exhibit reduced cardiac baroreflex sensitivity (cBRS), a key autonomic marker. Higher body mass index (BMI) in PLHIV may further lower cBRS, while physical activity levels do not show a significant association.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Autonomic Nervous System
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Reduced cardiac baroreflex sensitivity (cBRS) is linked to poorer cardiovascular outcomes.
- The impact of HIV infection on cBRS and the influence of BMI and physical activity (PA) remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare spontaneous cBRS between people living with HIV (PLHIV) and HIV-uninfected controls.
- To investigate the relationship between cBRS, BMI, and PA levels in PLHIV.
Main Methods:
- Assessed spontaneous cBRS (total, upward, and downward gains) using the sequential method from beat-to-beat blood pressure.
- Recruited 16 PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy and 16 HIV-uninfected controls.
- Measured BMI and assessed PA using the IPAQ short version.
Main Results:
- PLHIV demonstrated significantly lower total, upward, and downward cBRS compared to controls (p < 0.01).
- No significant differences in BMI or PA levels were observed between PLHIV and controls.
- In PLHIV, total cBRS was inversely correlated with BMI (r = -0.44; p = 0.04) but not with PA levels (r = 0.17; p = 0.26).
Conclusions:
- HIV infection may lead to reduced spontaneous cBRS.
- Higher BMI appears to moderate the reduction in cBRS among PLHIV.
- PA level did not show a moderating effect on cBRS in this PLHIV cohort.
Abstract:
Reduced cardiac baroreflex sensitivity (cBRS) is an autonomic marker associated with a worse cardiovascular prognosis. Whether cBRS is lowered in people living with HIV (PLHIV) is yet unclear, as well as potential moderator effects of body mass index (BMI) or physical activity (PA) level. The present study aims to compare the spontaneous cBRS in PLHIV vs. HIV-uninfected controls, and to determine among PLHIV the relationship between cBRS vs. body mass index (BMI) and PA level. Total, upward (cBRS+), and downward (cBRS-) cBRS gains were assessed using the sequential method from beat-to-beat blood pressure at rest in 16 PLHIV (46.5±8.4 years) under antiretroviral therapy for at least 6 months, and 16 HIV-uninfected controls (CTL; 42.1±8.0 years). PA level was assessed by the Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ short version) overall score. PLHIV showed lower total cBRS (8.7±3.1 vs. 15.3±7.7 ms.mmHg-1; p < 0.01), cBRS+ (9.2±4.9 vs. 16.0±6.8 ms.mmHg-1; p < 0.01) and cBRS- (9.5±4.9 vs. 15.3±9.3 ms.mmHg-1; p < 0.01) vs. CTL. No between-group difference was found for BMI (PLHIV: 25.2±2.6 vs. CTL: 26.8±3.2 kg.m-2; p > 0.05) or IPAQ score (PLHIV: 2.4±1.0 vs. CTL: 2.0±1.4; p > 0.05). In PLHIV, total cBRS was inversely correlated vs. BMI (r = -0.44; p = 0.04), but not vs. IPAQ score (r = 0.17; p = 0.26). HIV infection may reduce spontaneous cBRS, which seemed to be moderated by higher BMI, but not PA level of PLHIV.
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