title: Cardiac autonomic balance versus cardiac regulatory capacity.
abstract: The concept of autonomic balance views autonomic states along a bipolar continuum from sympathetic (S) to parasympathetic (P) dominance, whereas regulatory capacity models emphasize overall autonomic flexibility as a marker of the capacity for regulation. These two concepts were evaluated for their utility in characterizing patterns of autonomic control. Measures of P (high frequency heart rate variability, HF) and S (preejection period, PEP) cardiac control were obtained. A measure of cardiac autonomic balance (CAB) was derived as the difference in the normalized P index minus the S index, and a measure of cardiac autonomic regulation (CAR) was derived as the normalized P index plus the S index. Results reveal that CAR, but not CAB, was a significant predictor of the prior occurrence of a myocardial infarction, net of demographic and other variables, whereas CAB, but not CAR, was a significant predictor of concurrent diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. berntson@osu.edu
authors.forename: Gary G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Berntson
authors.forename: Greg J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: Louise C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hawkley
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Cacioppo
mesh_terms: D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology