Some studies have adressed heart rate variability as a marker of sympathetic activity to analyze its relationship with arterial stiffness in different sub-groups. However, since heart rate variability is a marker of cardiac autonomic function than sympathetic nerve activity, I am wondering what is the physiology behind the relationship between cardiac autonomic modulation and arterial stiffness?
I don't think so. (and correct the spelling of 'variability').
Um abraço!
Dear Henrique and Fernando,
i would expect a relationship between arterial stiffness and HRV through the impairment of baroreflex function. As the stiffness of aorta and carotid artery can affect the baroreceptors even the heart rate which is in parts determined by the baroreflex function might be affected.
Greetings, Sebastian
HRV is related indirectly or we can say through reflex activity of the vascular wall.
My opinion is in full agreement with that of Sebastian and Intasar. It is impossible to discuss about cardiac autonomic innervation without considering the role of the vascular baroreceptors.
All the best.
Gianni
Excuse me. I have one more point. If a uniformly distributed arterial stiffness impair the role of baroreceptors, we most not forget that arterial stiffness induces an increae in pulse pressure, i.e. of the specific stimulus for baroreceptors.
All the best again.
Gianni
I think that such a correlation may occur, for example, in patients with type 1 diabetes due to development of cardiac autonomic neuropathy and arterial stiffness.
In my review article (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19022405), I mentioned that "In animal experiments, electrical pacing that increases HR is found to stiffen vascular smooth muscle in large arteries, therefore causing progressive and profound reductions in arterial compliance and distensibility (Mangoni et al., 1996; Mircoli et al., 1999)" (page 55, left column)
Although it is HR, not exactly HRV in my review article (Ageing Res Rev. 2009 Jan;8(1):52-60. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2008.10.001)
Yes, HRV includes information about arterial stiffness. Sebastian Zaunseder and other reviewers are right. However, using resting HRV to evaluate the vessel elasticity is not good way. The vascular tone control system works in very low partly low frequency range of 0.01 – 0.075 Hz. HRV can give clear information about value of the arterial stiffness if you find method to stimulate the HRV in this range. HRV response to such stimulation in this range will be the smaller the higher stiffness.
Evgeny
Yes, I agree with Sebastian Zaunseder and other reviewers.
I think that the knowledge of how baroreceptors are stimulated is essential to answer your question.
Classically, fluctuations in blood pressure are used to assess the global baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), which is the result of both vascular (dependent to the arterial stiffness) and neural components of the baroreflex (the neural baroreflex pathway, NBP, see attached file).
As suggested by Gianno Losano, arterial stiffness induces an increase in pulse pressure. However, baroreceptors respond to deformation and not to pressure per se. Therefore, changes in peripheral blood pressure might not accurately reflect changes in carotid bulb distension, particularly in patients with carotid stiffening. Recently, the separate study of the neural and vascular component of the baroreflex has been used in a large cohort (see attached file).
Article The Neural Baroreflex Pathway in Subjects With Metabolic Syn...
Thank you all for the answars. They were all interesting!
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