Influence of Obesity on Heart Rate Variability in Nurses with Age and Shift Type as Moderators

Abstract

Obesity is a risk factor of cardiovascular disease-related mortality and may be associated with changes in the autonomic nerve activity. Nurses working shifts and caring for patients are under great mental and physical pressure, and research has proven that these can negatively affect the body. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of obesity in nurses on their heart rate variability (HRV) and determine whether age or shift type moderates this influence. A questionnaire survey and HRV measurements were conducted on nurses at a hospital in Taiwan during a routine employee health checkup. HRV analysis was conducted using a noninvasive HRV monitor for five minutes. A total of 242 nurses with a mean age of 28.98 ± 6.56 years were enrolled in this study. An overly large waist circumference (WC) had a negative impact on high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), and standard deviation of normal-to-normal interval (SDNN), while an overly high body mass index (BMI) had a negative impact on very low frequency (VLF) and SDNN. The interaction term “overly large WC × age” had a negative impact on HF ( β = − 0.21 , p = 0.010 ) and LF ( β = − 0.18 , p = 0.030 ), whereas the interaction term “overly high BMI×age” had a negative impact on HF ( β = − 0.27 , p = 0.001 ), LF ( β = − 0.19 , p = 0.023 ), and VLF ( β = − 0.17 , p = 0.045 ). The interaction terms “overly large WC × shift type” and “overly high BMI × shift type” did not influence any HRV parameters. As age increased, so did the degree to which the HF and LF of nurses with an overly large WC were lower than normal, and so did the degree to which the HF, LF, and VLF of nurses with an overly high BMI were lower than normal.

Autonomic changes as reaction to experimental social stress in an inpatient psychosomatic cohort

“…This phenomenon is well-known ( 82 ) and not likely to be related to a difference in reaction to the experimental setting or treatment. We also observed an effect of BMI and age on most of investigated variables that has already been documented elsewhere ( 83 , 84 ). Interestingly, adding these covariates to our models impacted the significance of treatment main effect for lnHF, again pointing toward the close connection between parasympathetic regulation and somatic variables ( 85 , 86 ).…”

The effect of extended shift work on autonomic function in occupational settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…One study 55 was excluded because it described a theoretical framework for studying cardiovascular strain. Thirty‐six studies 16,22,56–89 were excluded because they did not investigate a 24‐h shift and 15 studies 90–104 did not have a continuous shift or had an unclear or undefined shift length. One study 105 was excluded because it did not compare the effect of shift work after 24 h. In addition, one study 106 was excluded because it was not available in the English language, three studies 107–109 used sleep as an experimental condition, and one study 110 was a letter to the editor.…”

“…One study 55 was excluded because it described a theoretical framework for studying cardiovascular strain. Thirty‐six studies 16 , 22 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 were excluded because they did not investigate a 24‐h shift and 15 studies 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 ,…”

Indices Of Heart Rate Variability Are Not Associated With Obesity In Patients 30-60 Years Of Age Without Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases

“…Obese patients of the older age group are often characterized by the presence of comorbid conditions, also to a certain extent associated with autonomic disorders. Such heterogeneity in clinical groups of patients causes high variability in the detected differences and associations between HRV indices, obesity and other factors [3,14]. Often, researchers find differences in HRV indices only in individuals with extremely high BMI or waist circumference values [14].…”

“…Such heterogeneity in clinical groups of patients causes high variability in the detected differences and associations between HRV indices, obesity and other factors [3,14]. Often, researchers find differences in HRV indices only in individuals with extremely high BMI or waist circumference values [14]. We can assume that HRV, albeit characterizing the autonomic regulation of blood circulation, is not the optimal marker for assessing changes in the autonomic regulation of metabolism in general for substances involved in the pathogenesis of obesity.…”