Brain connectivity networks underlying resting heart rate variability in acute ischemic stroke

Abstract

Acute strokes can affect heart rate variability (HRV), the mechanisms how are not well understood. We included 42 acute stroke patients (2–7 days after ischemic stroke, mean age 66 years, 16 women). For analysis of HRV, 20 matched controls (mean age 60.7, 10 women) were recruited. HRV was assessed at rest, in a supine position and individual breathing rhythmus for 5 min. The coefficient of variation (VC), the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), the powers of low (LF, 0.04–0.14 Hz) and high (HF, 0.15–0.50 Hz) frequency bands were extracted. HRV parameters were z-transformed related to age- and sex-matched normal subjects. Z-values -1). No different connectivity could be found for the respective VC groups. Our results suggest that HRV alteration after acute stroke might be due to affecting resting-state brain networks.

Keywords

• Stroke
• Heart rate variability
• Low-frequency spectral band
• Voxel-based lesion mapping
• Connectivity network analysis