Variations of normal sinus node function in relation to age: role of autonomic influence

European Heart Journal
M de MarneffeM Englert

Abstract

An electrophysiological study of sinus node function, including measurements of resting heart rate, maximal corrected sinus node recovery time and sinoatrial conduction time, was performed in 30 patients, 12-79 years of age, without any clinical, electrocardiographic or electrophysiological evidence of sinus node disease. To analyse autonomic influences, variables were measured before and after sympathetic and parasympathetic blockade. No significant correlations were observed between age and electrophysiological measurements of sinus node function at the control study or after sympathetic blockade. In contrast, the electrophysiological parameters of intrinsic sinus node activity were correlated with age and showed a progressive lengthening of mean sinus cycle length, of maximal corrected sinus node recovery time and of sinoatrial conduction time. In addition, measurements after vagolysis suggest a progressive decrease of parasympathetic activity with increasing age. These data also indicate that the respective role of the two components of the autonomic nervous system vary with increasing age: parasympathetic activity predominates in younger subjects; sympathetic and parasympathetic tones are equilibrated in older subjects. Th...Continue Reading

Citations

Feb 1, 1995·Clinical Autonomic Research : Official Journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society·M Kotamäki
Jun 1, 1993·Clinical Autonomic Research : Official Journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society·S SegaT Kiauta
Mar 17, 2015·European Heart Journal·Thomas F Lüscher
Jun 28, 2013·European Journal of Heart Failure·Luigi TavazziUNKNOWN SHIFT Investigators
May 31, 2012·Respirology : Official Journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology·Gioia PiattiClaudia Tarantola

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