title: Autonomic responses to stress in Black versus Caucasian Africans: the SABPA study.
abstract: Underlying mechanisms of increased pressor responses to stress in Blacks are poorly understood. Cardiovascular regulation of normotensive Black (n=43) and Caucasian (n=90) Africans was studied during a cold pressor and color-word conflict test. Autonomic evaluation was performed by spectral analysis. Higher diastolic pressor and heart rate responses to the cold pressor test were observed in Black compared to Caucasian Africans. Autonomic efferent outflow to stress was comparable between groups. Transient downregulation of baroreflex during stress was evident in Blacks but not in Caucasians. Greater diastolic pressor responses were related to a higher cardiac reactivity, a baroreflex desensitization, and higher stress perception in Black Africans. Thus, increased stress perception may facilitate cardiac and diastolic hyperreactivity, indirectly affecting baroreflex function in Black Africans.
authors.affiliation: Autonomic and Neuroendocrinological Laboratory Dresden, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany. manja.reimann@uniklinikum-dresden.de
authors.forename: Manja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reimann
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamer
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlaich
authors.forename: Nicolaas T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Malan
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rüdiger
authors.forename: Tjalf
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ziemssen
authors.forename: Leoné
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Malan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000502:physiology; D044383:Black People; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D044465:White People