Cardiovascular autonomic function testing showed significantly higher Valsalva ratio in males (11.13±1.12) compared to females (0.94±0.78), with P=0.0009, indicating sympathetic dominance in males.
Does gender affect cardiovascular autonomic function test responses in healthy young adults?
Healthy young males exhibit greater sympathetic autonomic dominance compared to females, as evidenced by significantly higher blood pressure responses to postural changes and isometric exercise.
The portion of the nervous system that controls most visceral functions of the body is called the AutonomicNervous System (ANS). The effects of the ANS on heart rate are called “chronotropic effects”. Briefly,sympathetic stimulation increases heart rate and parasympathetic stimulation decreases heart rate. Ourcardiovascular system is governed by autonomic nervous system. Since women have a lower cardiovascularrisk , this study is aimed to determine the normal values of cardiovascular functions in normal healthyindividuals & to determine effects of age & gender in these values. 50 healthy young subjects (35 males and15 females) of age 18 to 22 years are subjected to a set of cardiovascular AFTs. The results were Valsalvaratio in males is 11.13±1.12 while in females is 0.94±0.78 with a P value of 0.0009 which is very highlysignificant. Deep breathing ratio in males is found to be 0.99±0.79 while in females is 0.93±0.7 with a Pvalue of 0.05. DBP change to posture was found to be more in males than in females (P=0.007). This is avery significant change indicating dominant sympathetic activity among males. DBP change to handgrip wasalso found to be more in males than in females (P=0.01). This is a significant change again indicatingpredominant sympathetic activity among males. Comparing standing and supine postures, cardiacautonomic nervous activity was so variable among participants that not much significant differences couldbe detected. However, heart rate and arterial systolic and diastolic blood pressures all were significantlygreater in the supine position than standing,
Hoque et al. (Fri,) conducted a other in Healthy young adults aged 18 to 22 years without known cardiovascular disease (n=50). Cardiovascular Autonomic Function Tests (AFTs) vs. Comparison between males and females, and by weight subgroups was evaluated on Cardiovascular autonomic function parameters including Valsalva ratio, deep breathing ratio, resting heart rate, and blood pressure changes to posture and handgrip test. Cardiovascular autonomic function testing showed significantly higher Valsalva ratio in males (11.13±1.12) compared to females (0.94±0.78), with P=0.0009, indicating sympathetic dominance in males.