Estimation of sinoaortic baroreceptor heart rate reflex sensitivity and latency in man: a new microcomputer assisted method of analysis.

A new method for analysing baroreflex sensitivity has been developed. It obviates the mathematical bias inherent in earlier methods and in addition provides a direct measurement of reflex latency. Sensitivity results obtained using this method in 25 patients with a wide range of ages and resting blood pressures were similar to, but consistently lower than, those achieved with the Oxford method. Baroreflex latency results ranged from 650 to 2900 ms (mean(SD) 1084(427) ms) and were reproducible within individuals. Sensitivity results were inversely related to age and resting systolic blood pressure. Reflex latency was not related to these variables or to resting heart rate or reflex sensitivity. This method was able to identify inadequate starting data and greatly reduced the analysis time.