Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40501021›Full record

ArticlePhysiological reports2025

Altered autonomic cardiovascular function in adults with persisting post-concussive symptoms and exercise intolerance.

Leah J Mercier, Samantha J McIntosh, Joel S Burma, Julia Batycky, Julie M Joyce, Jean-Michel Galarneau, Michael J Esser, Kathryn J Schneider, Jonathan D Smirl, Sean P Dukelow and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Physiological reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Leah J MercierDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-8367-6572
Samantha J McIntoshDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Joel S BurmaHotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-9756-5793
Julia BatyckyDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Julie M JoyceHotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Jean-Michel GalarneauSport Injury Prevention Research Centre (SIPRC), Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Michael J EsserHotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Kathryn J SchneiderHotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Jonathan D SmirlHotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Sean P DukelowDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Ashley D HarrisHotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Chantel T DebertDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Funding

Alberta SPOR Support UnitFondation Brain Canada (Brain Canada)Foundation of Physical Medicine & RehabilitationHotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of CalgaryIntegrated Concussion Research Program (ICRP), University of CalgaryNew Frontiers in Research FundO'Brien Centre, University of CalgaryUniversity of Calgary (U of C)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Alterations in autonomic cardiovascular function may result following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), but there is a lack of data evaluating autonomic function in adults with persisting post-concussive symptoms (PPCS). We collected resting measures of heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP) and cardiac baroreceptor sensitivity in 50 adults with PPCS (42.8 (11.0) years; 24.5 (14.2) months post-injury; 74% female) and 50 age/sex-matched controls (43.0 (11.1) years; 74% female) with no lifetime mTBI history. HR and BP data were collected for ≥4 min when seated and standing. Between-group differences (PPCS vs. control) were analyzed using linear regression. In the seated posture, participants with PPCS had significantly lower HRV than controls, specifically RMSSD (root mean squared of successive RR interval differences) (mean difference = -10.450, p = 0.001) and SDNN (standard deviation of RR intervals) (mean difference = -12.875, p = 0.001). In the standing position, PPCS had lower SDNN. Participants with PPCS had significantly lesser change in HRV, including RMSSD (mean difference = 5.981, p = 0.007) and LF/HF (low-frequency to high-frequency ratio) (mean difference = -2.229, p = 0.016), when going from seated to standing compared to controls. Findings suggest adults with PPCS have altered autonomic function relative to controls. Physical activity level and deconditioning are potential treatment targets to improve autonomic function.

Indexed as

Autonomic Nervous SystemExercise TolerancePost-Concussion SyndromeAdultBaroreflexBlood PressureFemaleHeart RateHumansMaleMiddle Agedbaroreceptorblood pressureconcussionheart rate variabilitymild traumatic brain injurypersisting post‐concussive symptoms

Identifiers

PMID40501021
PMCPMC12159307

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.