title: The analysis of a reference value for baroreflex sensitivity and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy prevalence in a Chinese population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is rapidly growing in all populations worldwide. Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) is easily applied as a diagnostic test to a large number of individuals in the general population. However, no study has reported the normal reference values of BRS for the CAN diagnostic test in a Chinese population. The aim of this study was to estimate the normative reference value of BRS, and assess CAN prevalence in our cross-sectional dataset.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a large-scale, community-based, cross-sectional study in a Chinese population. We performed data analysis on 2,092 subjects. Cardiovascular autonomic function was assessed using spontaneous BRS. A total of 349 healthy subjects were used to perform analysis for the reference value for BRS. The CAN prevalence was calculated in the overall sample, and in patients with diabetes mellitus, patients with hypertension and patients with metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the overall sample, the reference value for total power (TP.brs) was more than 1.96 ms/mmHg. The cut-off points of 1.74 ms/mmHg and 2.53 ms/mmHg were set as high frequency (HF.brs) and low frequency (LF.brs), respectively. CAN diagnostic tests based on the reference value were performed. The estimated CAN prevalence in the overall sample was 20.41% using the BRS test. CAN prevalence was 33.18%, 28.69% and 28.57% in patients with diabetes mellitus, patients with hypertension and patients with metabolic syndrome, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings provided reference values for BRS. Estimated CAN prevalence was high in this Chinese population, which has become a major public health problem in China.
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fudan University Huashan Hospital, NO, 12 Wulumuqi Mid Road, Building 0#, Jing'an District, Shanghai 200040, China. albert.tang@163.com.
authors: Zi-Hui
authors: ZH
authors: Tang
authors: Fangfang
authors: F
authors: Zeng
authors: Kuangping
authors: K
authors: Ye
authors: Xiaoling
authors: X
authors: Yu
authors: Linuo
authors: L
authors: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003935:Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values