Hypertension and Autonomic Control

Abstract

Arterial hypertension is considered one of the most important public health problems and had their development, progression and complications associated with the autonomic nervous system (ANS). In this context, the present systematic review aim at gathering recent studies (2003-2013) that addressed the relation between ANS and hypertension, in order to update the knowledge in the last 10 years. Searches were made onMedLine / PubMed, PEDro, SciELO, IBECS, COCHRAINE and LILACS databases using the intersection between the keywords hypertension, autonomic nervous system, sympathetic nervous system , parasympathetic nervous system and heart rate variability”. A total of 17 articles were included and main findings of this review indicating the acute influence of the ANS in different types of hypertension characterized by a reduction of the overall heart rate variability (HRV) and a reduction in the parasympathetic component of ANS evaluated by linear indexes. In addition, the behavior of the sympathetic component could present an increase or a reduction according to the study design. Thus further studies to assess the influence of chronic influence of ANS on hypertension as well as investigations by nonlinear HRV indexes are needed.