Heart Rate Variability and Its Association With Symptom of Orthostatic Hypotension in Spinal Cord Injury

Heart Rate Variability and Its Association With Symptom of Orthostatic Hypotension in Spinal Cord Injury

In this study, the SCI patients were sub-grouped on the basis of symptoms into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups and measured HRV during resting and tilt up tests to compare their cardiovascular autonomic functions.

In study protocol and the subjects were asked to lie down quietly for 5 minutes, closing their eyes and avoiding talking, moving hand, legs and body, and coughing during the test. R-R interval and blood pressure were measured beat-to-beat using Finometer® PRO (Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, Netherlands) for 6 minutes each in two positions, supine and 60-degree angle on the tilt table.

Inclusion Criteria:

• spinal cord injury with or without OH
• aged 19 or older
• ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) A to D
• neurological level of injury above T6.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those with heart and respiratory diseases, neurological diseases other than SCI - medically unstable states
• Those who are taking medications affecting BP that cannot be stopped