Reliability of heart period and systolic arterial pressure variabilities in women with fibromyalgia syndrome

Abstract

The aim of this study is to define absolute and relative reliability of spectral indices of cardiovascular autonomic control in the supine position in women with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Twenty-three women with FMS (age 48 ± 7 years) took part in the study. ECG, finger blood pressure, and respiration were continuously recorded in all participants at rest in baseline 1 (BL1) and after 15 days from BL1 (BL2). The power spectrum analysis provided two oscillatory components: low frequency (LF, 0.04-0.15 Hz) and high frequency (HF, 0.15-0.4 Hz) from the heart period (HP) variability and the LF oscillatory component from SAP variability (LFSAP). Absolute and relative reliability were rated by 95 % of the limit of random variation and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. No significant differences were observed between BL1 and BL2 for the spectral indices of HP and SAP variabilities. The 95 % limit of the random variation of these indices indicated that the values of repeated measurements were between 22 % higher and 0.2 % lower (more reliable parameter; average of HP variability) and 912.9 % higher and 0.2 % lower (less reliable parameter; LFSAP) than BL1. Conversely, the index of relative reliability (ICC) ranged from 0.23 to 0.70 indicating a good reliability. The spectral indices of cardiovascular autonomic control in women with FMS seem to present good relative reliability. Therefore, these indices can be useful as parameters to quantify if a variation was consistent and accurate in the retest besides adding crucial information for clinical research and clinical evaluation of FMS patients.

Improvement of pain experience and changes in heart rate variability through music-imaginative pain treatment

“…The spectral indices of cardiovascular autonomic control as measured by the spectral analysis of heart period and the mean systolic arterial pressure in women with Fibromyalgia syndrome seem to present good relative reliability. The FMS patients exhibited reduced activation of the sympathetic nervous system (in the LF power, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure) ( 22 ). However, a previous study ( 23 ) does not indicate dysregulation of spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity.…”

Remarkable points for cardiovascular studies in fibromyalgia syndrome management

“…Dear editor: I have taken a great interest in the recently published article entitled BReliability of heart period and systolic arterial pressure variabilities in women with fibromyalgia syndrome^by Andrade et al (1). However, I have a few remarks with respect to the methodology of the study.…”