Influence of respiration on metabolic, hemodynamic, psychometric
and r-r interval power spectral parameters.
Meersman, Ronald E. De, Stanley S. Reisman, Miriam Daum, and Richard.
ZOROWITZ COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS, DEPARTMENT OF
REHABILITATION MEDICINE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK, NY 10032, THE
KESSLER INSTITUTE FOR REHABILITATION, WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY 07502
AND THE NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
07102.
APStracts 2:0217H, 1995.
Because respiration modulates autonomic activity, we determined the
magnitude of perturbation of changing breathing frequency and tidal
volume on metabolic, hemodynamic, psychometric and R-R interval power
spectral parameters. Seated subjects breathed at 3 different rates
and 5 different volumes with each of the different rates. Breathing
rates and volumes were percentages of the subject's resting breathing
pattern, and therefore identical across all subjects. Increases in
rate and volume resulted in significant perturbations in end-tidal
CO2 production (PETCO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2),
ventilatory equivalent for oxygen (VEO2), comfort levels, and R-R
interval power spectra (p < 0.05). The magnitude of the
perturbations in the above parameters indicated a substantial upset
in all subjects' metabolic, hemodynamic, and comfort homeostasis,
precipitating a significant loss of vagal tone. The implications of
our findings are that imposed breathing patterns used to modulate
autonomic outflow should be tailored to the individual's resting
breathing pattern. These data further support the urgent need for
concomitant metabolic, and respiratory measurements when analyzing
and interpreting heart rate variability data.
Received 20 January 1995; accepted in final form 15 May 1995.
APS Manuscript Number H55-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 30 May 1995.