Introduction
Methods
Study population
Characteristics | Stoke group (n = 16) | Non-stroke group (n = 25) | Sig. |
---|---|---|---|
Population characteristics | |||
Male (%) | 11 (69) | 11 (44) | N. t. |
Age (years) | 65.81 ± 1.85 | 63.72 ± 1.39 | p = 0.371 |
Height (cm) | 173.5 ± 2.22 | 170.48 ± 1.8 | p = 0.298 |
Weight (kg) | 83.5 ± 4.09 | 78.44 ± 3.24 | p = 0.340 |
Antidiabetic medication | |||
Biguanide | 2 (12.5%) | N. t. | |
Antihypertensive medication | |||
ACE inhibitor | 6 (37.5%) | 1 (4%) | |
β1 selective beta blockers | 2 (12.5%) | 2 (8%) | |
Angiotensin II receptor antagonists | 1 (6.25%) | 2 (8%) | |
Thiazide | 2 (12.5%) | N. t. | |
Calcium channel blockers | 2 (12.5%) | N. t. | |
Vascular risk factors | |||
Atrial fibrillation | 1 (6.25%) | N. t. | |
Peripheral arterial disease | 2 (12.5%) | N. t. | |
Coronary heart disease | 2 (12.5%) | N. t. | |
Nicotine abuse | 2 (12.5%) | 1 (4%) | |
Obesity | 1 (6.25%) | N. t. | |
Arterial hypertension | 10 (62.5%) | 2 (8%) | |
Dyslipidemia | 8 (50%) | 2 (8%) | |
Diabetes mellitus | 2 (12.5%) | N. t. | |
Stroke characteristics | |||
Stroke etiology | |||
Large vessel disease | 17% | ||
Cardioembolic source | 42% | ||
Cryptogenic stroke | 42% | ||
Initial NIHSS (at hospitalization) | |||
Non-stroke symptoms (score: 0) | 33% | ||
Minor stroke (score: 1–4) | 67% | ||
Baseline NIHSS (at examination) | |||
Non-stroke symptoms (score: 0) | 58% | ||
Minor stroke (score: 1–4) | 42% | ||
Disability (modified Rankin scale) | |||
No symptoms after stroke (score: 0) | 67% | ||
No significant disability after stroke (score: 1) | 33% |
Sample size calculation
Experimental protocol
Months/Parameters | Temperature °C (7 a.m.) | Temperature °C (day) | Humidity % (7 a.m.) | Humidity % (day) |
Colder months | ||||
Nov 14 | 6.7 | 8.1 | 94 | 89 |
Dec 14 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 88 | 81 |
Jan 15 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 82 | 75 |
Feb 15 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 83 | 76 |
Mar 15 | 2.5 | 6.3 | 76 | 63 |
Apr 15 | 7.7 | 11 | 65 | 54 |
Mean (SE) | 3.01 (1.37) | 5.38 (1.5) | 81.3 (4.09) | 73 (5.14) |
Warmer months | ||||
May 15 | 13.5 | 15.7 | 75 | 66 |
Jun 15 | 17.3 | 19.7 | 72 | 62 |
Jul 15 | 20.1 | 22.7 | 74 | 65 |
Aug 15 | 18.7 | 21.9 | 77 | 65 |
Sep 15 | 13 | 15.2 | 80 | 72 |
Oct 15 | 7.9 | 9.9 | 91 | 84 |
Nov 15 | 3.5 | 6.8 | 88 | 77 |
Mean (SE) | 13.4 (2.27) | 16 (2.26) | 79.6 (2.75) | 70.14 (3) |
Equipment used and measurements performed
Statistical analysis
Results
Hemodynamic and HRV parameters at rest
Postural hemodynamic and HRV parameters responses in two seasons
Epochs | Sig. | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Parameters | Groups | Epoch 1 | Epoch 2 | Epoch 3 | Epoch 4 | Epoch 5 | Epoch 6 | |
SBP [mmHg] | Control | 126.9 (4.0) | 123.3 (3.98) | 118.77 (3.98)* | 125.5 (3.97) | 129.6(4.02) | 128.1 (4.02) | p < 0.05 |
Stroke | 133.9 (5.73) | 138.4 (5.73) | 124.56 (5.73) | 135.53 (5.73) | 138.9 (5.73) | 135.87 (5.73) | ||
DBP [mmHg] | Control | 84.84 (1.98) | 79.15 (1.98)* | 78.11 (1.98)* | 82.8 (1.98) | 87.77 (2.02) | 85.29 (2.02) | p < 0.05 |
Stroke | 90.62 (4.29) | 89.55 (4.29) | 83.7 (4.29) | 90.6 (4.29) | 90.32 (4.29) | 90.34 (4.29) | ||
MBP [mmHg] | Control | 103.31 (2.45) | 98.13 (2.45) | 94.4 (2.45)* | 100.71 (2.45) | 105.95 (2.49) | 103.8 (2.49) | p < 0.05 |
Stroke | 107.80 (4.71) | 108.86 (4.71) | 98.82 (4.71) | 107.81 (4.71) | 109.26 (4.71) | 107.84 (4.71) | ||
SI [ml/beat/m2] | Control | 28.64 (1.61) | 30.87 (1.61) | 30.03 (1.61) | 29.12 (1.61) | 27.14 (1.61) | 27.13 (1.60) | – |
Stroke | 26.82 (2.15) | 28.34 (2.19) | 28.27 (2.19) | 26.57 (2.30) | 26.98 (2.19) | 27.01 (2.19) | ||
CI [l/min/m2] | Control | 2.12 (0.12) | 2.5 (0.12) | 2.52 (0.12)* | 2.24 (0.12) | 2.13 (0.12) | 2.13 (0.12) | p < 0.05 |
Stroke | 2.22 (0.21) | 2.43 (0.22) | 2.77 (0.22 | 2.30 (0.23) | 2.28 (0.22) | 2.19 (0.22) | ||
HR [bpm] | Control | 78.20 (3.38) | 83.57 (3.38) | 81.4 (3.38) | 80.09 (3.38) | 80.87 (3.42) | 78.98 (3.38) | – |
Stroke | 83.43 (4.47) | 86.26 (4.64) | 97.84 (4.64) | 87.72 (5.04) | 85.71 (4.64) | 82.27 (4.64) | ||
RRI [ms] | Control | 823.54 (42.75) | 754.50 (42.75) | 824.68 (42.75) | 775.18 (42.75) | 782.32 (43.43) | 796.8 (42.75) | – |
Stroke | 763.07 (48.99) | 836.57 (50.66) | 676.9 (50.66) | 726.15 (54.69) | 737.09 (50.66) | 759.95 (50.66) | ||
LFnuRRI [%] | Control | 58.48 (4.70) | 58.70 (4.83) | 58.4 (4.75) | 61.86 (4.75) | 63.60 (4.75) | 62.19 (4.70) | – |
Stroke | 54.17 (5.95) | 58.55 (6.18) | 58.12 (6.33) | 58.4 (6.33) | 56.66 (6.06) | 63.41 (6.06) | ||
HRnuRRI [%] | Control | 41.51 (4.70) | 41.3 (4.83) | 41.6 (4.75) | 38.13 (4.75) | 36.4 (4.75) | 37.8 (4.70) | – |
Stroke | 45.82 (5.95) | 41.45 (6.18) | 41.87 (6.33) | 41.6 (6.33) | 43.33 (6.06) | 36.6 (6.06) |
Epochs | Sig. | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Parameters | Groups | Epoch 1 | Epoch 2 | Epoch 3 | Epoch 4 | Epoch 5 | Epoch 6 | |
SBP [mmHg] | Control | 126.44 (7.29) | 130.94 (7.29) | 109.6 (7.29)* | 128.51 (7.29) | 130.14 (7.36) | 124.37 (7.36) | p < 0.05 |
Stroke | 119.8 (8.60) | 120.43 (8.60) | 101.74 (8.60) | 113.60 (8.60) | 122.66 (8.60) | 121.11 (8.60) | ||
DBP [mmHg] | Control | 69.73 (3.80) | 70.58 (3.80) | 61.94 (3.80)* | 71.76 (3.80) | 72.81 (3.84) | 70.92 (3.84) | p < 0.05 |
Stroke | 70.70 (6.42) | 69.11 (6.42) | 60.31 (6.42) | 68.12 (6.42) | 74.12 (6.42) | 73.23 (6.42) | ||
MBP [mmHg] | Control | 88.96 (4.58) | 90.84 (4.58) | 76.5 (4.58)* | 88.99 (4.58) | 91.31 (4.63) | 88.37 (4.63) | p < 0.05 |
Stroke | 88.5 (6.39) | 87.45 (6.39) | 73.95 (6.39)* | 83.5 (6.39) | 91.15 (6.39) | 90.66 (6.39) | p < 0.05 | |
SI [ml/beat/m2] | Control | 32.40 (1.14) | 32.96 (1.16) | 32.13 (1.16) | 31.53 (1.16) | 29.47 (1.14) | 29.48 (1.14) | – |
Stroke | 32.25 (1.52) | 33.33 (1.52) | 31.97 (1.52) | 31.94 (1.52) | 30.58 (1.52) | 29.6 (1.52) | ||
CI [l/min/m2] | Control | 2.52 (0.13) | 2.75 (0.13) | 2.55 (0.13) | 2.58 (0.13) | 2.31 (0.13) | 2.3 (0.13) | – |
Stroke | 2.53 (0.18) | 3.01 (0.18) | 2.51 (0.18) | 2.41 (0.18) | 2.33 (0.18) | 2.24 (0.18) | ||
HR [bpm] | Control | 79.81 (3.90) | 84.43 (4.03) | 81.64 (4.03) | 82.1 (4.03) | 78.33 (3.92) | 78.46 (3.92) | – |
Stroke | 80.58 (5.23) | 88.37 (5.23) | 79.42 (5.23) | 76.09 (5.23) | 76.9 (5.23) | 76.46 (5.23) | ||
RRI [ms] | Control | 819.28 (57.21) | 764.99 (58.97) | 781.26 (58.97) | 785.41 (58.97) | 794.29 (57.41) | 793.06 (57.41) | – |
Stroke | 802.61 (41.88) | 734.7 (41.88) | 774.61 (41.88) | 808.52 (41.88) | 793.61 (41.88) | 796.38 (41.88) | ||
LFnuRRI [%] | Control | 47.92 (6.54) | 51.4 (6.95) | 51.7 (6.68) | 55.15 (6.68) | 57.23 (6.57) | 60.65 (6.57) | – |
Stroke | 58.97 (10.13) | 56.29 (10.35) | 60.23 (10.35) | 61.45 (10.13) | 61.31 (10.13) | 60.29 (10.13) | ||
HRnuRRI [%] | Control | 52.07 (6.54) | 48.59 (6.95) | 48.29 (6.68) | 44.84 (6.68) | 42.76 (6.57) | 39.34 (6.57) | – |
Stroke | 41.02 (10.13) | 43.7 (10.35) | 39.76 (10.35) | 38.54 (10.13) | 38.68 (10.13) | 39.7 (10.13) |