Key result
In 242 nurses, increasing age significantly worsened the negative impact of high BMI on high-frequency heart rate variability (β = -0.27, p=0.001), while shift type had no moderating effect.
Why the study?
Obesity is a cardiovascular risk factor linked to autonomic changes, and shift-working nurses face substantial stress; the study aimed to assess obesity's influence on heart rate variability and whether age or shift type moderates it.
Does obesity reduce heart rate variability in nurses, and is this effect moderated by age or shift type?
Population
242 nurses (mean age 28.98 ± 6.56 years) at a hospital in Taiwan
Comparison
Obesity exposure (overly large waist circumference and overly high BMI) with age and shift type moderation
Design
Cross-sectional survey and physiological measurement study
Authors
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Age may intensify BMI effects on HF-HRV in nurses; leaves open clinical relevance and need for prospective validation.
Cross-Sectional (n=242)
No
Does obesity reduce heart rate variability in nurses, and is this effect moderated by age or shift type?
Obesity negatively impacts heart rate variability in nurses, and this autonomic dysfunction is significantly exacerbated by increasing age but not by shift type.
Chang et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in Obesity and heart rate variability (n=242). Obesity (high waist circumference and BMI) vs. Normal waist circumference and BMI was evaluated on Heart rate variability parameters (HF, LF, VLF, SDNN). In 242 nurses, increasing age significantly worsened the negative impact of high BMI on high-frequency heart rate variability (β = -0.27, p=0.001), while shift type had no moderating effect.
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