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Heart Rate Variability Frequency Domain Alterations among Healthy Nurses Exposed to Prolonged Work Stress

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  • Rossana Borchini

    (Research Centre in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (EPIMED), Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Via O Rossi 9-Pad Rossi-1 Piano, 21100 Varese, Italy
    Medicina del Lavoro, Preventiva e Tossicologia, ASST dei Sette laghi di Varese, 21100 Varese, Italy)

  • Giovanni Veronesi

    (Research Centre in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (EPIMED), Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Via O Rossi 9-Pad Rossi-1 Piano, 21100 Varese, Italy)

  • Matteo Bonzini

    (Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy)

  • Francesco Gianfagna

    (Research Centre in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (EPIMED), Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Via O Rossi 9-Pad Rossi-1 Piano, 21100 Varese, Italy
    Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo NEUROMED, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy)

  • Oriana Dashi

    (School of Specialization in Occupational Medicine, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy)

  • Marco Mario Ferrario

    (Research Centre in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (EPIMED), Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Via O Rossi 9-Pad Rossi-1 Piano, 21100 Varese, Italy
    Medicina del Lavoro, Preventiva e Tossicologia, ASST dei Sette laghi di Varese, 21100 Varese, Italy)

Abstract

The deregulation of the autonomic nervous system assessed through the heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is a promising pathway linking work stress and cardiovascular diseases. We aim to investigate the associations between HRV High Frequency (HF) and Low Frequency (LF) powers and work stress in a sample of 36 healthy nurses. Perceived work stress was assessed twice one year apart, using the Job Content and Effort Reward Imbalance questionnaires. This allows to classify nurses in three exposure groups: “prolonged high stress” (PHS), “recent high stress” (RHS) and “stable low stress” (SLS). A 24-h ECG monitoring was later performed during a working day (WD) and a subsequent resting day (RD). Statistically significantly lower ( p < 0.02) HF and LF means were found in PHS and RHS nurses during the working periods. In the subsequent resting periods, HF means showed increases over time in the RHS (beta = +0.41, p < 0.05), but not in PHS nurses. LF means did not show any substantial increases in the resting periods, in the PHS group with geometric means lower when compared to SLS, in the non-working and resting periods. Our study evidences that both prolonged and recent perceived high work stress were associated with a reduction of HF and LF powers during work. In addition, prolonged stress was associated with a lack of recovery during not-working and resting periods.

Suggested Citation

  • Rossana Borchini & Giovanni Veronesi & Matteo Bonzini & Francesco Gianfagna & Oriana Dashi & Marco Mario Ferrario, 2018. "Heart Rate Variability Frequency Domain Alterations among Healthy Nurses Exposed to Prolonged Work Stress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:1:p:113-:d:126340
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bosma, H. & Peter, R. & Siegrist, J. & Marmot, M., 1998. "Two alternative job stress models and the risk of coronary heart disease," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 88(1), pages 68-74.
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