Aims: Dysfunction of autonomic control of heart rate is associated with increased mortality. Routine measurement of baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS) for clinical patient evaluation needs a standardized technique and established reference values. The recent use of carotid distension rate instead of blood pressure (BP) has permitted to study the neural path of the baroreflex after fully controlling for the vascular component. We took advantage of a representative sample of the European general population and of the gold standard method for measuring arterial parameters to establish reference and normal values for BRS.

Methods: From the PPS3 study, a large epidemiological survey of working people of age 50–75, were selected the first 2992 individuals free from overt cardiovascular disease, non-diabetic, non-smokers and untreated by either anti-hypertensive or lipid-lowering drugs that constituted the reference value population, of which the subset with optimal/normal BP (n=200) is the normal value population. Subjects were categorized by age quintile and further subdivided according to BP categories.

Results: BRS decreased with age and BP category. The distribution of BRS with age and BP category is described and reference values for BRS are established. Normal values are proposed based on the BRS values observed in the non-hypertensive subpopulation without additional CV risk factors.

Conclusion: A standardization of the technique and established reference and normal values for BRS were proposed.