Key result
Greater baroreceptor-resident arterial atherosclerosis links to ~1.7 ms lower 24-hour SDNN per point.
Why the study?
The association between post-stroke cardiac autonomic dysfunction and vascular disease, specifically atherosclerotic burden in baroreceptor-resident arteries, remains incompletely understood.
Cross-Sectional (n=253)
Higher atherosclerosis burden in baroreceptor-resident arteries, such as the carotid sinus and aortic arch, is associated with impaired 24-hour heart rate variability and reduced circadian HRV amplitude after ischemic stroke.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Baroreceptor plaque may flag autonomic risk after ischemic stroke; leaves open prognostic value and need for longitudinal studies.
Background/Objectives: Post-stroke cardiac autonomic dysfunction is associated with poor neurological recovery and cardiovascular events. However, its association with vascular disease remains incompletely understood. We evaluated associations of atherosclerotic burden in baroreceptor-resident arteries (BRAs), including the carotid sinus (CS) and aortic arch (AA), with heart rate variability (HRV) and its circadian rhythm after ischemic stroke. Methods: This cross-sectional study consecutively enrolled 253 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke within 30 days of onset. Total atherosclerosis burden of BRA (TAB-BRA) was assessed using computed tomography angiography (CTA), and patients were categorized based on TAB-BRA tertiles. The 24 h HRV indices and serial measures across 48 consecutive 30 min segments were derived from Holter recordings, with the standard deviation of all normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) as the primary outcome. Results: After adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, stroke severity, time from stroke onset to Holter monitoring, and other prespecified covariates, each 1-point increase in TAB-BRA was associated with a 1.67 ms decrease in 24 h SDNN (95% confidence interval [CI], −2.43 to −0.90; p < 0.001), suggesting impaired cardiac autonomic regulation. Restricted cubic spline models revealed a nonlinear association (p for nonlinearity = 0.014). Adding AA burden to the model containing CS burden improved model fit for 24 h SDNN (adjusted R2 difference = 0.033; p = 0.001). Compared with Tertile 1, circadian SDNN amplitude was lower by 3.61 ms in Tertile 2 (95% CI, −6.33 to −0.81; p = 0.006) and 3.71 ms in Tertile 3 (95% CI, −6.59 to −0.77; p = 0.012). Conclusions: Higher TAB-BRA was nonlinearly associated with lower 24 h SDNN, while the intermediate- and high-burden groups had lower circadian SDNN amplitudes. CTA-based TAB-BRA assessment may provide complementary information for evaluating post-stroke cardiac autonomic dysfunction.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Gu et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Ischemic stroke (n=253). Total atherosclerosis burden of baroreceptor-resident arteries vs. Lower atherosclerosis burden was evaluated on standard deviation of all normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) (1.67 ms decrease, 95% CI -2.43 to -0.90, p=< 0.001). Each 1-point increase in total atherosclerosis burden of baroreceptor-resident arteries was associated with a 1.67 ms decrease in 24 h SDNN (95% CI, -2.43 to -0.90; p < 0.001).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: