Gastrointestinal transit time and heart rate variability in patients with mild acquired brain injury
Background Constipation is suspected to occur frequently after acquired brain injury (ABI). In patients with ABI, heart rate variability (HRV) is reduced suggesting autonomic dysfunction. Autonomic dysfunction may be associated with prolonged gastrointestinal transit time (GITT). The primary aim of...
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| Format: | Article |
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PeerJ Inc.
2018-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/4912.pdf |
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| author | Johannes Enevoldsen Simon T. Vistisen Klaus Krogh Jørgen F. Nielsen Karoline Knudsen Per Borghammer Henning Andersen |
| author_facet | Johannes Enevoldsen Simon T. Vistisen Klaus Krogh Jørgen F. Nielsen Karoline Knudsen Per Borghammer Henning Andersen |
| author_sort | Johannes Enevoldsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Constipation is suspected to occur frequently after acquired brain injury (ABI). In patients with ABI, heart rate variability (HRV) is reduced suggesting autonomic dysfunction. Autonomic dysfunction may be associated with prolonged gastrointestinal transit time (GITT). The primary aim of this study was to investigate if GITT is prolonged in patients with ABI. Secondarily, HRV and its correlation with GITT was investigated. Methods We included 25 patients with ABI (18 men, median age: 61.3 years, range [30.7–74.5]). GITT was assessed using radio-opaque markers and HRV was calculated from 24-hour electrocardiograms. Medical records were reviewed for important covariates, including primary diagnosis, time since injury, functional independence measure, and use of medication. The GITT assessed in patients was compared to a control group of 25 healthy subjects (18 men, median age: 61.5 years, range [34.0–70.9]). Results In ABI patients, the mean GITT was significantly longer than in healthy controls (2.68 days, 95% CI [2.16–3.19] versus (1.92 days, 95% CI [1.62–2.22], p = 0.011)). No correlation was found between HRV and GITT. Conclusion Patients with mild to moderate ABI have prolonged GITT unrelated to the HRV. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:59:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bd73b71eaf4747c6a780e32e31cf1d72 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:59:26Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj.art-bd73b71eaf4747c6a780e32e31cf1d722023-12-03T09:55:53ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592018-06-016e491210.7717/peerj.4912Gastrointestinal transit time and heart rate variability in patients with mild acquired brain injuryJohannes Enevoldsen0Simon T. Vistisen1Klaus Krogh2Jørgen F. Nielsen3Karoline Knudsen4Per Borghammer5Henning Andersen6Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, DenmarkResearch Centre for Emergency Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DenmarkNeurogastroenterology Unit, Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus Univeristy Hospital, Aarhus, DenmarkHammel Neurocenter and University Clinic, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DenmarkDepartment of Nuclear Medicine & PET-Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, DenmarkDepartment of Nuclear Medicine & PET-Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, DenmarkDepartment of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, DenmarkBackground Constipation is suspected to occur frequently after acquired brain injury (ABI). In patients with ABI, heart rate variability (HRV) is reduced suggesting autonomic dysfunction. Autonomic dysfunction may be associated with prolonged gastrointestinal transit time (GITT). The primary aim of this study was to investigate if GITT is prolonged in patients with ABI. Secondarily, HRV and its correlation with GITT was investigated. Methods We included 25 patients with ABI (18 men, median age: 61.3 years, range [30.7–74.5]). GITT was assessed using radio-opaque markers and HRV was calculated from 24-hour electrocardiograms. Medical records were reviewed for important covariates, including primary diagnosis, time since injury, functional independence measure, and use of medication. The GITT assessed in patients was compared to a control group of 25 healthy subjects (18 men, median age: 61.5 years, range [34.0–70.9]). Results In ABI patients, the mean GITT was significantly longer than in healthy controls (2.68 days, 95% CI [2.16–3.19] versus (1.92 days, 95% CI [1.62–2.22], p = 0.011)). No correlation was found between HRV and GITT. Conclusion Patients with mild to moderate ABI have prolonged GITT unrelated to the HRV.https://peerj.com/articles/4912.pdfGastrointestinal transitConstipationAutonomic functionBrain injuryHeart rate variabilityRehabilitation |
| spellingShingle | Johannes Enevoldsen Simon T. Vistisen Klaus Krogh Jørgen F. Nielsen Karoline Knudsen Per Borghammer Henning Andersen Gastrointestinal transit time and heart rate variability in patients with mild acquired brain injury PeerJ Gastrointestinal transit Constipation Autonomic function Brain injury Heart rate variability Rehabilitation |
| title | Gastrointestinal transit time and heart rate variability in patients with mild acquired brain injury |
| title_full | Gastrointestinal transit time and heart rate variability in patients with mild acquired brain injury |
| title_fullStr | Gastrointestinal transit time and heart rate variability in patients with mild acquired brain injury |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gastrointestinal transit time and heart rate variability in patients with mild acquired brain injury |
| title_short | Gastrointestinal transit time and heart rate variability in patients with mild acquired brain injury |
| title_sort | gastrointestinal transit time and heart rate variability in patients with mild acquired brain injury |
| topic | Gastrointestinal transit Constipation Autonomic function Brain injury Heart rate variability Rehabilitation |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/4912.pdf |
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