Year: 2012
Type: other
Abstract: Objective: Impaired baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) is a non-invasive marker of autonomic dysfunction which has been observed in acute stroke and is associated with a higher risk of long-term poststroke mortality and disability. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical significance of baroreflex sensitivity in hypertensives ≥ 6 months after ischemic stroke onset. Design: A total of 26 hypertensive patients (66 ± 10 years of age, 11 female/15 male) with a history of the first-ever ischemic stroke, which was neuroradiologically confirmed, were studied. They were compared to 30 hypertensive patients without a history of any cardiovascular event of similar age and sex. The relationship between baroreflex sensitivity and blood pressure in hypertensives with stroke in comparison to a group of stroke-free control patients was evaluated. Method: BRS expressed in ms/mmHg or in Hz/ mmHg (BRSf) was determined by the sequence and spectral method: a 5-minute non-invasive beat-to-beat recording of blood pressure and RR interval by means of a Collin CBM-7000 monitor, controlled breathing at a frequency of 0.1 Hz. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was determined using ultrasonography. Results: A significantly negative correlation between BRS and systolic blood pressure was present (p 0.001). BRS values obtained by the spectral method (BRS spect) and sequence method (BRS seq) in hypertensives with stroke were significantly lower even ≥ 6 months after stroke onset compared to stroke-free control patients (BRS spect p = 0.0237, BRSf spect p = 0.0285, BRS seq p = 0.0532, BRSf seq = 0.0273). Significantly reduced BRS in hypertensives with stroke was associated with greater carotid IMT and bilateral carotid atherosclerosis. Conclusion: Examination of baroreflex sensitivity as a marker of autonomic dysfunction along with global cardiovascular risk stratification of post-stroke hypertensives, especially with measuring carotid intima media thickness, seems to be a method for identifying patients at high residual cardiovascular risk.
Authors: Denisa Čelovská, Ján Staško, J Gonsorčík, Andrej Dukát
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1578440408