What recording duration is required to provide physiologically valid and reliable dynamic cerebral autoregulation transfer functional analysis estimates?

Abstract

Abstract Objective . Currently, a recording of 300 s is recommended to obtain accurate dynamic cerebral autoregulation estimates using transfer function analysis (TFA). Therefore, this investigation sought to explore the concurrent validity and the within- and between-day reliability of TFA estimates derived from shorter recording durations from squat-stand maneuvers. Approach . Retrospective analyses were performed on 70 young, recreationally active or endurance-trained participants (17 females; age: 26 ± 5 years, [range: 20–39 years]; body mass index: 24 ± 3 kg m −2 ). Participants performed 300 s of squat-stands at frequencies of 0.05 and 0.10 Hz, where shorter recordings of 60, 120, 180, and 240 s were extracted. Continuous transcranial Doppler ultrasound recordings were taken within the middle and posterior cerebral arteries. Coherence, phase, gain, and normalized gain metrics were derived. Bland–Altman plots with 95% limits of agreement (LOA), repeated measures ANOVA’s, two-tailed paired t-tests, coefficient of variation, Cronbach’s alpha, intraclass correlation coefficients, and linear regressions were conducted. Main results . When examining the concurrent validity across different recording durations, group differences were noted within coherence ( F (4155) > 11.6, p < 0.001) but not phase ( F (4155) < 0.27, p > 0.611), gain ( F (4155) < 0.61, p > 0.440), or normalized gain ( F (4155) < 0.85, p > 0.359) parameters. The Bland–Altman 95% LOA measuring the concurrent validity, trended to narrow as recording duration increased (60 s: < ±0.4, 120 s: < ±0.3, 180 s < ±0.3, 240 s: < ±0.1). The validity of the 180 and 240 s recordings further increased when physiological covariates were included within regression models. Significance . Future studies examining autoregulation should seek to have participants perform 300 s of squat-stand maneuvers. However, valid and reliable TFA estimates can be drawn from 240 s or 180 s recordings if physiological covariates are controlled.