Characteristics of Autonomic Regulation of the Heart Function in Musicians Playing Wind Instruments

Abstract

We compared measures of the sympatho-vagal balance in heart regulation and cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) between musicians playing wind instruments (n = 23) and non-musicians (n = 19) to elucidate whether playing wind instruments is associated with chronic alterations in autonomic cardiovascular control. The arterial blood pressure was measured and ECG was recorded under resting conditions, and the Valsalva maneuver was conducted. The main HRV parameters were calculated, and BRS values were estimated using a sequence method. Musicians were characterized by a higher average heart rate at rest, lower values of the parasympathetic-related HRV parameters, i.e., RMSSD, pNN50%, HF, and SD1, together with lower values of SDNN and total HRV power. The Valsalva maneuver estimates (BRS) did not differ significantly between musicians and non-musicians. Thus, certain HRV parameters differed significantly between the examined groups. Musicians were characterized, in general, by lower vagal activity and sympathetic predominance. There was no difference in the BRS.