Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2019; 112(6): 747-748

Heart and Skeletal Muscles: Linked by Autonomic Nervous System

Claudio Gil Araujo , Jari Antero Laukkanen

DOI: 10.5935/abc.20190097

This Short Editorial is referred by the Research article "Sympatho-Vagal Imbalance is Associated with Sarcopenia in Male Patients with Heart Failure".

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a fundamental role in maintaining cell homeostasis and human life. The functionality of the heart and skeletal muscles is partially modulated by sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the ANS both in resting and exercising conditions.

Substantial literature attests to the fact that objective indices of muscle strength reflect health status. It is well-established that heart failure is typically accompanied by skeletal muscle abnormalities that contributed to the exercise intolerance and poor health-related quality of life usually seen in these patients.^, Indeed, while a decrease in muscle mass and strength is naturally seen with ageing, especially after the fifth decade of life, this is especially more relevant in middle-aged and older patients with heart failure.

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