title: Attenuated autonomic function in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome across three age groups.
abstract: Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is the failure of several organs after a trigger event. The mortality is high, at up to 70%. We hypothesize that autonomic dysfunction may substantially contribute to the development of MODS and speculate that there is an age dependence of autonomic dysfunction in MODS. A total of 90 consecutively admitted MODS patients were assigned to this study. Three variables of autonomic function were analyzed: heart rate variability (HRV), baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and chemoreflex sensitivity (CRS). The patient cohort was divided into three age groups. The main finding was that BRS, CRS and almost all indices of HRV were attenuated in comparison to normal range data and there was no age dependence for HRV indices or CRS, but there was for BRS. In conclusion, autonomic function in MODS is attenuated. The influence of MODS on autonomic function overwhelms the age dependence of autonomic function observed in healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. hendrik.schmidt@medizin.uni-halle.de
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Müller-Werdan
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Dárrel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Massimo F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Piepoli
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rauchhaus
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prondzinsky
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Loppnow
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buerke
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hoyer
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Werdan
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017704:Baroreflex; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption