Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41557119›Full record

SynthesisClinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society2026

Cutoffs, sensitivity and specificity of the Ewing battery in evaluating autonomic nervous system disorders: a systematic review.

Theodora R Barkoula, Christiana Ioannou, Martina Rekatsina, Kassiani Theodoraki, Panagiotis Zis

Registry-linked trialAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07557706 (Using taVNS to Modulate Cardiovascular Function in Individuals With Neurologic Disease), which is not on this map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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.

NCT07557706 phase1recruitingnot on this map

Using taVNS to Modulate Cardiovascular Function in Individuals With Neurologic Disease

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamRan2025 to 2026Enrolled24ConditionsPARKINSON DISEASE (Disorder)Armstranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. 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

5 authors.

Theodora R BarkoulaMedical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Christiana IoannouMedical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Martina RekatsinaFirst Department of Anaesthesiology, Aretaieion Hospital, University of Athens School of Medicine, Vassilissis Sofias 76, 11528, Athens, Greece.
Kassiani TheodorakiFirst Department of Anaesthesiology, Aretaieion Hospital, University of Athens School of Medicine, Vassilissis Sofias 76, 11528, Athens, Greece.
Panagiotis ZisMedical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus. zis.panagiotis@ucy.ac.cy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8567-3092

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeMany methods have been developed for the assessment of dysautonomia, but they are often unreliable and not readily applicable to daily practice. Among the available investigation methods, the Ewing battery, which includes five non-invasive cardiovascular reflex tests, have become the reference standard in assessing dysautonomia and have been utilized for more than four decades. This systematic review evaluates the diagnostic thresholds and diagnostic performance of Ewing tests across studies in identifying autonomic nervous system (ANS) disorders.

methodsWe conducted a comprehensive multi-database literature search, including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library, using a pre-defined search strategy, for studies that applied the Ewing tests to assess autonomic dysfunction. We focused on studies that used continuous recordings and those reporting extractable numerical data, including either normative values or diagnostic cutoff thresholds for the Ewing tests. The Ewing parameters that were tested were Valsalva manoeuvre, heart rate variability during deep breathing (E/I ratio), the isometric handgrip, heart rate response to standing (30:15 ratio) and blood pressure response to standing.

resultsOur analysis demonstrates good diagnostic performance of the Ewing tests, with sensitivity for individual components reaching up to 91% for Valsalva ratio (VR) in some cohorts. The normative data and respective cutoff points are influenced by age and sex. Optimal diagnostic performance was achieved when the Ewing battery was interpreted using the conventional criterion of ≥ 2/5 abnormal tests particularly when age-adjusted cutoffs were applied.

conclusionThe Ewing battery remains a highly effective tool for diagnosing ANS disorders, especially when age-adjusted normative thresholds are used. To further enhance its diagnostic performance, each laboratory should establish its own normative data reflective of the specific population it serves.

Indexed as

Autonomic Nervous System DiseasesBlood PressureHand StrengthHeart RateHumansSensitivity and SpecificityValsalva Maneuver30:15 ratioDeep breathingDysautonomiaEwingHandgripValsalva

Identifiers

PMID41557119
PMCPMC13068710

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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.