Bruehl S, et al. - Researchers perform a comparison of heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) between individuals with chronic pain (CP) (broadly defined) and pain-free controls in a large unselected population sample to confirm the finding that both HRV and BRS may be reduced in individuals with chronic pain, with potential implications for cardiovascular risk. This work confirms that the presence of CP is associated with impaired cardiovascular regulation and provides support for the hypothesis that links between CP and comorbid hypertension may be due in part to CP-related decrements in cardiovascular regulation.