Methods Inf Med 2010; 49(05): 501-505
DOI: 10.3414/ME09-02-0045
Special Topic – Original Articles
Schattauer GmbH

Interferences between Baroreflex and Respiration

Evaluation by Symbolic Analysis and Conditional Entropy
F. Vallais
1   Dipartimento di Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
,
A. Porta
2   Department of Technologies for Health, Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
,
D. Lucini
3   Centro di Ricerca Terapia Neurovegetativa, Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche “L. Sacco”, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
,
M. Pagani
3   Centro di Ricerca Terapia Neurovegetativa, Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche “L. Sacco”, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
,
F. Aletti
1   Dipartimento di Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
,
G. Baselli
1   Dipartimento di Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received: 26 October 2009

accepted: 08 February 2010

Publication Date:
17 January 2018 (online)

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Summary

Background: The baroreflex is one of the most important short-term cardiovascular autonomic control mechanisms. Its interactions with other reflexes, mainly cardio-pulmonary reflexes, are of paramount importance in controlling heart rate.

Objectives: This study assesses the coupling between baroreflex and respiration during a progressive bicycle mild dynamical exercise.

Methods: The coupling was assessed by symbolic analysis and conditional entropy.

Results: Findings suggested the close relationship between the baroreflex sequences and the phase of respiratory signal and, thus, the interference between baroreflex and cardiopulmonary reflexes.

Conclusions: Indexes describing baroreflex based on spontaneous variability are strongly affected by cardiopulmonary influences.