Association between PTSD and Impedance Cardiogram‐based contractility metrics during trauma recall: A controlled twin study

• DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14197
• Publication Date: 2022-10-26T07:49:01Z
• Authors: Shafa‐at Ali Sheikh; Erick A. Perez Alday; Ali Bahrami Rad; Oleksiy Levantsevych; Mhmtjamil Alkhalaf; Majd Soudan; Rami Abdulbaki; Ammer Haffar; Nicholas L. Smith; Jack Goldberg; J. Douglas Bremner; Viola Vaccarino; Omer T. Inan; Gari D. Clifford; Amit J. Shah
• Keywords: Contractility; Impedance cardiography; Traumatic stress; Stressor; Reactivity

Abstract Post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an independent risk factor for incident heart failure, but the underlying cardiac mechanisms remained elusive. Impedance cardiography (ICG), especially when measured during stress, can help understand psychophysiological pathways linking PTSD with failure. We investigated association between and ICG‐based contractility metrics (pre‐ejection period (PEP) Heather index (HI)) using a controlled twin study design laboratory‐based traumatic reminder stressor. status was assessed structured clinical interviews. acquired synchronized electrocardiograms ICG data while playing personalized‐trauma scripts. Using linear mixed‐effects models, we examined twins as individuals within PTSD‐discordant pairs. studied 137 male veterans (48 pairs, 41 unpaired singles) from Vietnam War Era mean (standard deviation) age of 68.5(2.5) years. HI trauma lower in vs. non‐PTSD (7.2 9.3 [ohm/s 2 ], p = .003). PEP reactivity (trauma minus neutral) also more negative (−7.4 −2.0 [ms], .009). The associations persisted adjusted models reactivity, respectively. For within‐pair analysis eight pairs (out 48 pairs), associated neutral, trauma, whereas no found PEP. reduced PEP, recall stress. This combination increased sympathetic activation decreased combined may be concerning failure after recurrent re‐experiencing PTSD.