Measurement of the Compensatory Reserve Predicts Racial Differences in Orthostatic Tolerance

Abstract

The Compensatory Reserve Index (CRI) has recently been established to accurately measure the body's integrated capacity to compensate for physiological conditions of reduced central blood volume, and predict hemodynamic decompensation. We previously demonstrated that African American (AA) women have a higher tolerance to orthostatic stress. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the CRI would identify racial differences in orthostatic tolerance prior to the onset of traditional signs and symptoms. We measured beat‐by‐beat blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in 23 AA (22 ± 1 years; 24 ± 1 kg/m2) and 31 Caucasian women (20 ± 1 years; 23 ± 1 kg/m2) during progressive lower body negative pressure (LBNP) to presyncope. Blood pressure waveforms were analyzed using a machine‐learning algorithm to derive the CRI at each LBNP stage; stroke volume (SV) was derived from the Finometer (Model flow). Resting mean arterial BP (AA, 78 ± 3 vs. Caucasian, 74 ± 2 mmHg) and HR (AA, 68 ± 2 vs. Caucasian, 65 ± 2 bpm) were similar between groups. The CRI progressively decreased during LBNP in both groups, however the CRI in Caucasian women was 4% lower than AA women at −15 mmHg LBNP and decreased to 21% lower at −50 mmHg LBNP (P<0.05). The rate of decline in SV during LBNP was greater in Caucasian women (ANOVA P<0.05), and differences were noted as early as −20 mmHg. However changes in BP and HR during LBNP were not different between groups. At presyncope, mean arterial BP (AA, 66 ± 3 vs. white, 65 ± 4 mmHg) and HR (AA, 102 ± 4 vs. white, 97 ± 3 bpm) were similar between groups, as was the change in SV (AA, Δ −33 ± 2 vs. white, Δ −35 ± 3 mL). Finally, the time to presyncope was 1.6 minutes longer in AA women. These data support the notion that greater tolerance to the orthostatic stress induced by LBNP in AA women can be explained by their greater reserve to compensate for progressive central hypovolemia compared to Caucasian women. An important clinical translation is that the CRI provides a more sensitive and specific measure for early assessment of differences in orthostatic tolerance in comparison to traditional vital signs and symptoms or changes in hemodynamics.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2017
Source ID
10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.1087.2

Entities

People

  • Corrine D Nawn
  • Jeffrey T. Howard
  • Kumba Hinds
  • Megan M Wenner
  • Nina S Stachenfeld
  • Víctor A. Convertino

Organizations

  • John B. Pierce Laboratory
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Quinnipiac University
  • United States Army
  • United States Army Institute of Surgical Research
  • United States Army Medical Research and Development Command
  • University of Delaware
  • Yale School of Medicine

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Exercise and Sports Science.

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML