Improved BRS assessment using the global approach in the sequences technique

The sequences technique, the most used time domain method for the assessment of arterial baroreceptor reflex sensitivity (BRS), is based in the linear regression of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart period (RR) values in baroreflex sequences (BRSseqs). In a previous study, a global estimator was compared with the traditional estimator: global is less biased, presents lower variance and the use of SBPramps in BRS estimation, instead of BRSseqs, turns both estimators unbiased. In this work, the replacement of BRSseqs for SBPramps in BRS analysis is further evaluated. Also, it is introduced a robust global (total) approach and compared with the traditional and the global approaches. The results showed that BRS global estimator with BRSseqs has lower bias, lower variability and present increased power to discriminate between Lying and Standing situations in the EuroBaVar dataset. It is expected that the robust properties of the total estimator can be fully enhanced in clinical practice.