Compensatory reserve index during central hypovolemia and volume loading in healthy young and older hyperthermic adults: A pilot study

The compensatory reserve index (CRI), derived from machine learning algorithms from peripherally obtained photoplethysmography signals, provides a non-invasive assessment of cardiovascular stability, that may be useful clinically. Briefly, the CRI device provides a value between 0 and 1, with 1 reflecting full compensable capabilities and 0 reflecting little to no compensable capabilities. However, the CRI algorithm was developed in younger to middle aged adults, such that it is unknown if older age modulates CRI responses to cardiovascular challenges. In young and older subjects, we compared CRI responses to normothermic and hyperthermic progressive lower body negative pressure (LBNP), and volume loading with saline infusion. Eleven younger (20-36 years) and 10 older (61-75 years) healthy participants underwent (1) graded normothermic LBNP up to 30 mmHg, (2) graded hyperthermic (1.5°C increase in blood temperature) LBNP up to 30 mmHg, and (3) infusion of 15 mL/kg saline (volume loading) with hyperthermia maintained. CRI was obtained throughout each procedure. CRI at 30 mmHg LBNP was 0.18 and 0.24 units greater in the older group during normothermic and hyperthermic LBNP, respectively. However, CRI was not different between age groups at any other LBNP stage, nor did CRI change with volume loading regardless of age. In response to passive hyperthermia alone, regression analyses showed that heart rate was the strongest predictor of CRI. Blood temperature, rate pressure product, and stroke volume were also predictive of CRI but to a lesser extent. In conclusion, age attenuates the reduction in CRI during progressive normothermic and hyperthermic LBNP, but only at 30 mmHg. Second, the CRI was unchanged during volume loading in all subjects. Future studies should determine whether the age differences in CRI reflect age differences in LBNP tolerance.