The relationships of resting baroreflex sensitivity, heart rate variability and measures of impulse control in children and adolescents

The objectives of the present study were to assess: (1) the feasibility of using a non-invasive method to measure baroreflex sensitivity in children a nd adolescents; (2) the relationships of resting baroreflex sensitivity wit h resting levels of other cardiovascular variables; and (3) whether baroref lex sensitivity and heart rate variability, two indices of cardiac vagal co ntrol at rest, were related to measures of impulse control. Ninety-one Blac k and White children (ages 8-10) and adolescents (ages 15-17), both female and male, participated in the study. Baroreflex sensitivity, auscultatory b lood pressure, EKG-derived heart rate, and the mean successive difference o f interbeat intervals were collected during a 10-min rest period. Measures of impulse control came from the Interview for Antisocial Behavior. Baroref lex sensitivity was strongly positively correlated with mean successive dif ference and negatively correlated with heart rate for all participant group s; baroreflex sensitivity was negatively correlated with diastolic blood pr essure, but only for children, males, and Blacks. Increased problems with i mpulse control was associated with decreased cardiac vagal control, but onl y in males. The usefulness of this technique as a measure of vagal activati on is discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.