Respiratory sinus arrhythmia was significantly associated with improved CO2 (partial r = -0.53, P=0.002) and O2 (partial r = -0.49, P=0.005) exchange efficiency in healthy volunteers.
Cross-Sectional (n=10)
Is respiratory sinus arrhythmia associated with improved efficiency of pulmonary gas exchange in healthy humans?
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia is associated with improved efficiency of pulmonary gas exchange in healthy humans, supporting the theory that it matches ventilation to perfusion.
Effect estimate: partial r = -0.53 (CO2), partial r = -0.49 (O2)
p-value: p=0.002 (CO2), 0.005 (O2)
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) may be associated with improved efficiency of pulmonary gas exchange by matching ventilation to perfusion within each respiratory cycle. Respiration rate, tidal volume, minute ventilation (.VE), exhaled carbon dioxide (.VCO(2)), oxygen consumption (.VO(2)), and heart rate were measured in 10 healthy human volunteers during paced breathing to test the hypothesis that RSA contributes to pulmonary gas exchange efficiency. Cross-spectral analysis of heart rate and respiration was computed to calculate RSA and the coherence and phase between these variables. Pulmonary gas exchange efficiency was measured as the average ventilatory equivalent of CO(2) (.VE/.VCO(2)) and O(2) (.VE/.VO(2)). Across subjects and paced breathing periods, RSA was significantly associated with CO(2) (partial r = -0.53, P = 0.002) and O(2) (partial r = -0.49, P = 0.005) exchange efficiency after controlling for the effects of age, respiration rate, tidal volume, and average heart rate. Phase between heart rate and respiration was significantly associated with CO(2) exchange efficiency (partial r = 0.40, P = 0.03). These results are consistent with previous studies and further support the theory that RSA may improve the efficiency of pulmonary gas exchange.
Giardino et al. (Thu,) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy (n=10). Paced breathing was evaluated on Pulmonary gas exchange efficiency (average ventilatory equivalent of CO2 and O2) (partial r = -0.53 (CO2), partial r = -0.49 (O2), p=0.002 (CO2), 0.005 (O2)). Respiratory sinus arrhythmia was significantly associated with improved CO2 (partial r = -0.53, P=0.002) and O2 (partial r = -0.49, P=0.005) exchange efficiency in healthy volunteers.