The association between cardiac autonomic system function at the entrance to rehabilitation and walking-endurance two months later among children following-ABI

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flow-chart.

Table 1. Participant and injury characteristics at admission; in the total sample (N = 28) and in those who attend the second assessment and perform the 6MWT (N = 25).

	Total sample n = 28	Performed the 6MWT n = 25
Gender (female/male)	10/18	9/16
Age (years)	12 [6–15]	13 [7–15]
Body Mass Index (Kg/meter^2)	17 [16–18]	17 [16–18]
First assessment post injury (days)	29 [23–40]	32 [23–41]
Etiology
Traumatic brain injury	21	19
Tumor removal	3	3
Stroke	3	3
Encephalitis	1

Values are: numbers, median [interquartile range].

Table 2. Participant impairment profile at admission.

Impairment	N	%
Motor impairment	28	100
Sensory impairment	5	18
Ataxia	12	43
Aphasia	2	7
Visual impairment	15	53
Cognitive disturbances:	28	100
Orientation	15	53
Visual perception	14	50
Apraxia	11	39
Thinking process	22	78
Executive function	28	100

Table 3. Motor and functional performances at admission (T₁) and two months later (T₂).

	T1 (n = 26)	T2 (n = 26)	p-value
Total FIM/WeeFIM (%)	54 [10–98]	91 [46–100]	P < 0.01
GMFM-88 (%)
Lying and rolling	100 [16–100]	100 [84–100]	P = 0.02
Sitting	98 [7–100]	100 [90–100]	P = 0.02
Crawling and kneeling	85 [0–100]	100 [36–100]	P = 0.01
Standing	79 [0–100]	97 [46–100]	P < 0.01
Walking, running, jumping	55 [0–100]	95 [18–100]	P < 0.01
Total score	84 [5–100]	98 [65–100]	P < 0.01
6MWT (m)		535 [244–794]
		(n = 25)

Values are median [minimum-maximum], GMFM-gross motor function measure, FIM-functional independence measure, Wee-tiny, 6MWT-6 minute walk test, p-value based on the Wilcoxon test.

Table 4. HRV parameters sitting and lying in admission (T₁) and two months later (T₂).

HRV	T1 (n = 26)			T2 (n = 26)			P value T1-T2
	Sitting	Lying	p-value	Sitting	Lying	p-value	Sitting	Lying
RR (ms)	626 [460–781]	676 [477–987]	<0.01	638 [401–874]	708 [424–993]	<0.01	0.05	0.59
SDNN (ms)	45 [14–76]	45 [13–90]	0.02	43 [14–90]	57 [16–115]	0.14	0.16	0.91
RMSSD (ms)	25 [4–62]	39 [6–87]	<0.01	28 [5–64]	43 [6–119]	<0.01	0.21	0.37
HF (ms^2)	249 [4–1880]	501 [12–3255]	<0.01	395 [12–1843]	408 [25–3875]	<0.01	0.19	0.57
LF (ms2)	628 [34–1762]	496 [65–3320]	0.16	639 [79–2459]	681 [96–3792]	0.64	0.05	0.93

RR-RR interval, SDNN-standard deviation of the normal to normal interval, RMSSD- root mean square of differences of the adjacent normal to normal interval, HF-high frequency, LF- low frequency. Values are median [minimum-maximum] and p-value based on the Wilcoxon test.

Table 5. Correlation coefficients between HRV parameters, FIM, GMFM-88 at admission (T₁) and 6MWT and GMFM-88 two months later (T₂).

	Two month
First assessment	6MWT	GMFM88- walking
RR lying	0.47*	0.62**
ΔRR lying-sitting	0.41*	0.49*
RMSSD lying	-	0.43*
Δ RMSSD lying-sitting	-	0.48*
HF lying	-	0.44*
ΔHF lying-sitting	0.52**	0.51**
FIM/WeeFIM	0.63**	0.74**
GMFM88- walking	0.64**

Δ – difference, RR-RR interval, HF-high frequency, FIM-functional independence measure, Wee-tiny, GMFM-gross motor function measure, *p-value<0.05, **p-value<0.01.