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IJIMS.2015.105

Type of Article: Original

Page No.: 79-86

DOI: 10.16965/ijims.2015.105

 

Study of Autonomic Function Tests in Geriatric Population

P. Vijitha *1, M.V. Sailaja 2, N. Mallikarjuna Reddy 3.

*1 Assistant professor in Physiology, ACSR Govt. Medical College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
2 Assistant professor in Physiology, RIMS, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India.
3 Professor in Physiology, Narayana Medical College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
 ABSTRACT

Autonomic dysfunction worsens with old age. It results from an imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions. Autonomic function tests were carried out in 50 healthy subjects in the age group of 65 to 90 years and compared with 50 controls in the age group of 25 to 65 years. The Parasympathetic activity was assessed by heart rate response to deep breathing, valsalva maneuver and orthostatic tests. Sympathetic function was assessed by blood pressure response to cold pressor test and sustained hand grip exercise. We found a decline in sympathetic and parasympathetic function with advancing age. No gender variation in both sympathetic and parasympathetic function was observed in this study. The E: I ratio values were significantly decreased in geriatric population. (p-value 0.037). In cold pressor test, the SBP and DBP difference values were significantly reduced in geriatric population. (p-value-0.000). Heart rate response to hand grip test was reduced significantly (p-value-0.035). Autonomic status will have an important bearing on determining the therapeutic strategy and drug action in the elderly in whom there may be altered responsiveness to autonomic reflexes and receptor sensitivity.

KEYWORDS: Autonomic function, sympathetic, parasympathetic, blood pressure, cold pressor test and hand grip exercise.

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