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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Autonomic Function Following Concussion in Youth Athletes: An Exploration of Heart Rate Variability Using 24-hour Recording Methodology
Published on: September 21, 2018
Heart rate variability as an assessment of cardiovascular status
1Department of Anesthesiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abstract:
In summary, HRV is a useful tool for cardiovascular risk stratification and assessment of sympathovagal balance. It has been shown to be a useful investigative tool in anesthesia to study autonomic balance and dysfunction but has limitations with regard to a depth-of-anesthesia monitor because of the confounding effects of multiple drugs and surgical stimuli. When assessing HRV, it is important to understand the limitations of the methodology. In particular, absolute power is not a surrogate of autonomic tone, but the relationship between the power in the different frequency bands may better reflect autonomic balance.
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