title: Cardiac autonomic reactivity and recovery in predicting carotid atherosclerosis: the cardiovascular risk in young Finns study.
abstract: The present study examined the association of cardiac autonomic task-induced reactivity and recovery to preclinical atherosclerosis. Thirty-three men and 33 women aged 24-39 years participated in the ongoing epidemiological Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study. The authors measured heart rate (HR), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and preejection period (PEP) during the mental arithmetic and speech tasks in 1999. Carotid atherosclerosis was assessed by measuring the thickness of the common carotid artery intima-media complex (IMT) with ultrasound in 2001. Higher HR, RSA, and PEP reactivity were associated with lower IMT values even after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors (lipid levels, obesity, and blood pressure). In addition, better HR recovery after the mental arithmetic task was associated with lower IMT values, and this association persisted after all adjustments. Thus, higher task-induced cardiac autonomic reactivity and better HR recovery were related to less preclinical atherosclerosis. The authors concluded that cardiac pattern of reactivity and quick recovery may be associated with better cardiovascular health, and therefore all reactivity occurring in challenging situations should not automatically be considered as potentially pathological.
authors.affiliation: University of Helsinki, National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Tarja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heponiemi
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elovainio
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pulkki
authors.forename: Sampsa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puttonen
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Raitakari
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keltikangas-Järvinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002307:Cardiography, Impedance; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids