Autonomic Cardiovascular Dysregulation After Acute Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: Insights From Linear and Nonlinear Heart Rate Variability

Background: Acute cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI) disrupts supraspinal regulation of sympathetic cardiovascular control, resulting in autonomic dysfunction. Heart rate variability (HRV), using linear and nonlinear dynamic metrics, provides a sensitive index of integrative autonomic regulation. Objective: To evaluate linear and nonlinear HRV parameters of autonomic dysfunction in patients with acute cSCI. Methods: This monocentric prospective study included 500 patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury (