Gender-related specificities of photoplethysmogram spectral assessment dynamics in healthy subjects during the passive tilt test

Abstract

The goal of our study was to investigate gender-related specificities of photoplethysmogram (PPG) spectral assessment dynamics in healthy individuals during the passive tilt test. Material and Methods — The study involved 38 men (33±7 years old) and 15 women (27±8 years old). The PPG signal was recorded for 10 minutes in the horizontal and vertical positions of the human body (passive tilt test). The following spectral parameters of PPG were calculated: HF%, LF%, and LF/HF. Results — In the horizontal body position, men had significantly higher values of the LF% index. In the course of the passive tilt test, an increase in HF% was observed by almost 1.5 times in men and by more than 5 times in women. Significant differences in the values of vegetative indicators were achieved: in women, HF% values exceeded those in men, while LF% values were noticeably lower. Conclusion — Men displayed signs (assessed by LF%) of augmented sympathetic activity, relative to women, at all stages of their passive tilt test. During the transition from the horizontal to the vertical position, a significant increase in respiratory influences (assessed by HF%) on PPG signal components was established, which was more pronounced in women.

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“…PPG signals also provide opportunities to assess the parameters of blood pressure (BP) and peripheral blood flow. [ 52 – 54 ]. Almarshad et al showed that PPG and BP signals have the same frequency components as sequences of RR intervals in the LF band [ 52 ].…”

“…According to the high coherence between BP and PPG signals, it is possible to study autonomic control of blood pressure using the PPG signal instead of BP. Moreover, other studies have demonstrated the functional autonomy of the LF oscillations of the heart rhythm and peripheral blood flow by PPG signal analysis [ 53 , 54 ]. Extracting accurate HRV parameters and their oscillation is also desired for other health applications such as blood pressure measurement.…”