Causal and Non-Causal Frequency Domain Assessment of Spontaneous Baroreflex Sensitivity after Myocardial Infarction

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is thought to alter the baroreflex control of arterial pressure. We tested this hypothesis investigating the changes of the cardiovascular response after AMI in comparison with young and old healthy controls studied at rest and during head-up tilt, using causal and non-causal frequency domain measures of the baroreflex sensitivity. Our results indicate: (i) the importance of using a causal approach that takes into account not only feedback but also feedforward effects in the study of interactions between the heart period and the arterial pressure; (ii) the compromised capacity of baroreceptors to control SAP fluctuations in post-AMI patients, both at rest and during postural stress.