Fibromyalgia syndrome was associated with impaired autonomic cardiovascular regulation, including lower baroreflex sensitivity (7.13 vs 10.73 ms/mmHg) and reduced heart rate variability (p < 0.05).
Case-Control (n=64)
Are there aberrances in autonomic cardiovascular regulation in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome compared to healthy controls?
Fibromyalgia syndrome is associated with impaired autonomic cardiovascular regulation and blunted cardiovascular adjustment to acute stress, which may contribute to hyperalgesia.
Absolute Event Rate: 7.13% vs 10.73%
p-value: p=< .05
Objective: To investigate autonomic cardiovascular regulation in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Methods: In 35 patients and 29 healthy controls, electrocardiography, impedance cardiography, and finger continuous blood pressure measurements were conducted. Assessed parameters comprised blood pressure, R-R interval (RRI), heart rate variability, baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), stroke volume, and left ventricular ejection time (LVET). To evaluate cardiovascular autonomic reactivity to mental stress, parameters were obtained at rest and during an arithmetic task. As an estimate of clinical pain severity, participants completed the McGill Pain Inventory. Results: Patients exhibited lower power in all heart rate variability frequency bands (p < .05), lower BRS (7.13 ± 3.45 versus 10.73 ± 5.72 ms/mmHg), as well as reduced stroke volume, LVET, and RRI (p < .05). Stress-induced modulations were less pronounced in BRS, LVET, blood pressure, and RRI (all p < .05). Across the whole sample and in both subgroups, BRS (r = −.40) and blood pressure (r = −.39) correlated negatively with pain severity. Conclusions: The data suggest that autonomic cardiovascular regulation in FMS is impaired in terms of reduced sympathetic and parasympathetic influences, as well as baroreflex malfunctioning. Furthermore, autonomic cardiovascular adjustment to acute stress is blunted. The inverse association between BRS and pain severity reflects the well-documented pain inhibition through the baroreceptor system. On account of this and the reduced baroreflex function in FMS, one may assume deficient ascending pain inhibition arising from the cardiovascular system, which may contribute to hyperalgesia that is characteristic of the disorder. FMS = fibromyalgia syndrome; HRV = heart rate variability; HF = high frequency; LF = low frequency; ICG = impedance cardiography; SV = stroke volume; TPR = total peripheral resistance; BRS = baroreflex sensitivity; SBP = systolic blood pressure; RRI = RR interval; ECG = electrocardiography; DBP = diastolic blood pressure; LVET = left ventricular ejection time; CO = cardiac output; DV = end-diastolic volume; CI = contractility index; SPD = spectral power density.
Paso et al. (Fri,) conducted a case-control in Fibromyalgia syndrome (n=64). Fibromyalgia syndrome vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) (p=< .05). Fibromyalgia syndrome was associated with impaired autonomic cardiovascular regulation, including lower baroreflex sensitivity (7.13 vs 10.73 ms/mmHg) and reduced heart rate variability (p < 0.05).