Comparative analysis of different vascular tone sensitivity parameters to meteorological and geomagnetic factors

Abstract

Long series of daily measurements of the vascular tone parameters, such as blood pressure (BP), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and endothelial function (EF), have been performed on one volunteer for three years. The Tonocard device, which was designed for this experiment, is used. To analyze the sensitivity these parameters to geomagnetic and meteorological factors, two independent approaches have been used. One of them is based on traditional methods of mathematical statistics; the other is based on pattern-recognition theory. The results obtained using these methods are in very good agreement, both qualitatively and quantitatively. It has been found that the volunteer’s systolic blood pressure (SBP), PWV, and EF were substantially affected by a complex of meteorological factors. Sensitivity to geomagnetic activity has been found only for the PWV. It is suggested that a decrease in the elasticity of vessel walls, which is reflected by this indicator, is a more pronounced and specific human reaction to geomagnetic disturbances than regular BP changes.