title: Radial pressure pulse and heart rate variability in normotensive and hypertensive subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The characteristics of the right/left radial pressure pulse (RPP) at the six diagnosis positions in Chinese medicine are not well documented. The purpose of this study is to investigate the spectral energy and augmentation index (AI) of bilateral RPP at the six diagnosis positions and heart rate variability (HRV) in the normotensives, hypertensives without heart dysfunction (HTN-N), and hypertensives with mild diastolic dysfunction (HTN-A).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and thirty-eight (138) subjects were enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent measurements of brachial arterial blood pressure and RPP of both wrists while seated, and the supine measurement of HRV. AI and spectral energy of RPP as well as HRV were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The low-frequency component, the spectral HRV parameter, was significantly reduced in HTN-A compared with that in the normotensive group. Radial AI of the six diagnosis positions in HTN-N was significantly higher compared with that in the normotensive group or HTN-A. At the six diagnosis positions, the spectral energy of 0-10 Hz (SE(0-10 Hz)) in both hypertensive groups and 10-50 Hz (SE(10-50 Hz)) in the HTN-A group were significantly higher compared with those in the normotensive group. SE(10-50 Hz) at right Chy, left Chun, and left Guan in the HTN-N group were higher than those in the normotensive group. Within each group, there was a significant difference in the energy proportion, 10-50 Hz% (EP(10-50 Hz%)), between the six positions and a significant reduction only at the left Chun position in both hypertensive groups compared to that in the normotensive group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that the EP(10-50 Hz%) revealed the specific characteristics of RPP and significantly varied at the six positions, and the left Chun position, the position to detect the heart diseases in Chinese medicine, is qualified to discriminate the differences between the normotensive and hypertensive patients.
authors: School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors: Chin-Ming
authors: CM
authors: Huang
authors: Hsien-Cheh
authors: HC
authors: Chang
authors: Shung-Te
authors: ST
authors: Kao
authors: Tsai-Chung
authors: TC
authors: Li
authors: Ching-Chuan
authors: CC
authors: Wei
authors: Chia Chung
authors: CC
authors: Chen
authors: Fun-jou
authors: FJ
authors: Chen
authors: Shi-Sheng
authors: SS
authors: Tsou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D011674:Pulse; D012016:Reference Values; D014953:Wrist