Key result
Heat exposure significantly reduces heart rate variability across multiple domains compared to cool conditions.
Why the study?
Temperature has not been controlled in some studies assessing repeated measurements, so this study aimed to analyze how heart rate variability changes based on environmental temperature.
Does heat exposure alter heart rate variability in volunteers?
RCT (n=22)
Randomly divided
No
Does heat exposure alter heart rate variability in volunteers?
Heat exposure significantly reduces heart rate variability primarily through parasympathetic withdrawal, highlighting the need for strict temperature control during HRV assessments.
Background: Research on heart rate variability has increased in recent years and the temperature has not been controlled in some studies assessing repeated measurements. This study aimed to analyze how heart rate variability may change based on environmental temperature during measurement depending on parasympathetic and sympathetic activity variations. Methods: A total of 22 volunteers participated in this study divided into an experimental (n = 12) and control group (n = 10). Each participant was assessed randomly under two different environmental conditions for the experimental group (19 °C and 35 °C) and two identical environmental conditions for the control group (19 °C). During the procedure, heart rate variability measurements were carried out for 10 min. Results: Significantly changes were observed for time and frequency domains as well as Poincaré plot variables after heat exposure (p < 0.05). These findings were not observed in the control group, whose conditions between measurements did not change. Conclusions: The reduction of heart rate variability due to exposure to hot conditions appears to be produced mostly by a parasympathetic withdrawal rather than a sympathetic activation. Therefore, if consecutive measurements have to be carried out, these should always be done under the same temperature conditions.
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Abellán‐Aynés et al. (2021) conducted an RCT in Healthy (n=22). Heat exposure (35 °C) vs. Cool environment (19 °C) was evaluated on Heart rate variability (time domain, frequency domain, and Poincaré plot variables) (p=<0.05). Exposure to a hot environment (35 °C) significantly reduced heart rate variability across time, frequency, and Poincaré plot domains compared to a cool environment (19 °C) (p < 0.05).
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