Strength and Latency of the HP-SAP Closed Loop Variability Interactions in Subjects Prone to Develop Postural Syncope

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2019 Jul:2019:2003-2006. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2019.8856288.

Abstract

The coupling and latency between heart period (HP) and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) variability can be investigated along the two arms of the HP-SAP closed loop, namely along the baroreflex feedback from SAP to HP, and along the feedforward pathway from HP to SAP. This study investigates the HP-SAP closed loop variability interactions through cross-correlation function (CCF). Coupling strength and delay between HP and SAP variability series were monitored in 13 subjects prone to develop orthostatic syncope (SYNC, 28±9 yrs, 5 males) and in 13 subjects with no history of postural syncope (noSYNC, age: 27±8 yrs, 5 males). Analysis was carried out at rest in supine position (REST) and during head-up tilt (TILT) at 60 degrees. The null hypothesis of HP-SAP uncoupling was tested through a surrogate analysis associating the HP series of a subject with a SAP sequence of a different one. Results showed that during TILT the coupling strength increased along the baroreflex and latency augmented along the mechanical feedforward pathway exclusively in noSYNC subjects. Finally, closed loop HP-SAP interactions were detected in about one third of subjects and the situation of full uncoupling was rarely found. CCF analysis was found to be a straightforward and easily applicable method to investigate HP-SAP control deserving a direct comparison with more sophisticated signal processing tools assessing causality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Baroreflex*
  • Blood Pressure
  • Computer Simulation
  • Heart Rate
  • Heart*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Syncope
  • Young Adult