Ann Occup Environ Med.  2016 ;28(1):25. 10.1186/s40557-016-0111-6.

Factors related to heart rate variability among firefighters

• Shin JH
• Lee JY
• Yang SH
• Lee MY
• Chung IS

• KMID: 2370905
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-016-0111-6

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with heart rate variability in firefighters working in a metropolitan city in South Korea.
METHODS
Self-administered questionnaires including Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS) as well as surveys collecting socio-demographic characteristics and work-related factors were given to 962 firefighters. After exclusion for missing data, 645 firefighters were included, and analysis of covaiance adjusted for the general risk factors and job characteristics were used to assess the relationship between heart rate variability and associated factors.
RESULTS
SDNN and RMSSD and were decreased in the area of occupational climate of the group with high job stress (p"‰="‰0.027, p"‰="‰0.036). HF(ln) was decreased in the area of organizational system and occupational climate of the group with high stress that statistically significant level (p"‰="‰0.034, p"‰="‰0.043).
CONCLUSIONS
Occupational climate and organizational system are associated with reduction of heart rate variability. Preventive medical care plans for cardiovascular disease of firefighters through the analysis and evaluation of job stress factors are needed.

Keyword

Keywords; Heart rate variability; Risk factors; Firefighters

MeSH Terms

Cardiovascular Diseases
Climate
Firefighters*
Heart Rate*
Heart*
Humans
Korea
Risk Factors