Does spectral analysis of systolic pressure and RR intervals accurately assess baroreceptor reflex sensitivity compared to the phenylephrine method?
Spectral analysis of systolic pressure and RR intervals provides a valid, non-pharmacological method for assessing baroreceptor reflex sensitivity that correlates highly with the traditional phenylephrine method.
A method of determining baroreceptor reflex sensitivity is proposed that is based on spectral analysis of systolic pressure values and RR interval times, namely, the modulus (or gain) in the mid frequency band (0.07-0.14 Hz) between these two signals. Results using this method were highly correlated (0.94; n = 8) with results of the phenylephrine method. In addition, compared with the values for the preceding rest period, the modulus decreased during mental challenge, as might be expected from the literature.
Robbe et al. (Sun,) studied this question.