Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts the descending spinal autonomic pathways, resulting in dysfunctions of the cardiovascular system and other organs. The alterations in autonomic cardiovascular control, combined with paralysis-associated physical inactivity, predispose people with SCI to a high incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent research findings indicate that CVD is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with SCI. It is clinically important to early detect people with SCI at risk for CVD. Heart rate variability (HRV) provides a means for quantifying residual sympathovagal regulation of the heart and may be a promising biomarker for assessing risk of CVD. This chapter reviews CVD in people with SCI, describes methods to quantify linear and nonlinear HRV, and discuss the potential role of HRV in assessing risk of CVD in people with SCI.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Heart Rate Variability (HRV) |
| Subtitle of host publication | Prognostic Significance, Risk Factors and Clinical Applications |
| Editors | Shelby Walters |
| Publisher | Nova Science Publishers, Inc. |
| Pages | 1-15 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781634637725 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781634637367 |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2015 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine