Low heart rate variability in unemployed men: The possible mediating effects of life satisfaction

Autonomic nervous system dysregulation in response to postural change in patients with pectus excavatum in Taiwan: a pilot study

Background

Pectus excavatum (PE) negatively impacts psychological function, but its effect on autonomic nervous system (ANS) function has not been investigated. We evaluated ANS function following postural changes in patients with PE.

Methods

The participants were 14 healthy men (control group) and 20 men with PE (study group). Psychological function was assessed using the visual analog scale for pain, Brief Symptom Rating Scale-5, and Beck Depression Inventory-II. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). ANS regulation in response to postural change was measured in the supine position and immediately after sitting. All measurements were compared between the control and study groups at baseline and between the study groups before and after Nuss surgery.

Results

At baseline, upon postural change, symptomatic activity increased in the control group (50.3–67.4%, p = 0.035) but not in the study group (55.0–54.9%, p = 0.654); parasympathetic activity decreased in the control group (49.7–32.6%, p = 0.035) but not in the study group (45.1–45.1%, p = 0.654); and overall ANS regulation increased in the control group (1.02–2.08, p = 0.030) but not in the study group (1.22–1.22, p = 0.322). In response to postural change after Nuss surgery in the study group, sympathetic activity increased (48.7–70.2%, p = 0.005), parasympathetic activity decreased (51.3–29.8%, p = 0.005), and overall ANS regulation increased (0.95–2.36, p = 0.012).

Conclusion

ANS function in response to postural change is dysregulated in patients with PE, which improved after Nuss surgery.

Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03346876, November 15, 2017, retrospectively registered, https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/prs/app/action/SelectProtocol?sid=S0007KGI&selectaction=Edit&uid=U0003JZU&ts=2&cx=cstxeg

How Is the Self-Perceived Work Ability Affected by the Duration of Unemployment, Heart Rate Variability and the Amount of Physical Activity in Older Long-Term Unemployed Persons?

BACKGROUND

This study investigated whether work ability is associated with the duration of unemployment, heart rate variability (HRV), and the level of physical activity.

METHODS

Thirty-four unemployed persons (mean 55.7 ± standard deviation 33.3 years, 22 female, 12 male, unemployed: range 1-22.5 years) participated in the cross-sectional study. The Work Ability Index (WAI) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were applied. Short-term (five minutes) resting HRV (Low Frequency (LF), High Frequency (HF), Total Power (TP)) was collected.

RESULTS

Work ability was positively associated with the HRV: LF (r = 0.383; p = 0.025), HF (r = 0.412; p = 0.015) and TP (r = 0.361; p = 0.036). The WAI showed a positive linear correlation with the amount of total physical activity (r = 0.461; p = 0.006) as well as with the amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity (r = 0.413; p = 0.015). No association between the WAI and the duration of unemployment occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

the relation between self-perceived work ability, health-associated parameters, the HRV and the level of physical activity points out the relevance of health-care exercise and the need of stress-reducing interventions to improve perceived work ability. Our results point out the need for the further and more holistic development of healthcare for the unemployed.