Key result
Cigarette smoking significantly increased the LF/HF ratio from 3.85 to 4.30 within 5 minutes during ordinary taxi driving, indicating acute sympathetic activation that was more prominent at night.
Why the study?
Does cigarette smoking acutely alter heart rate variability in healthy middle-aged taxi drivers during work?
Observational (n=20)
No
Does cigarette smoking acutely alter heart rate variability in healthy middle-aged taxi drivers during work?
Absolute Event Rate: 4.3% vs 3.85%
p-value: p=<0.05
Cigarette smoking acutely increases sympathetic tone (LF/HF ratio) in taxi drivers, particularly at night, which may contribute to increased cardiac risk.
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Smoking may acutely increase sympathetic activity in working drivers; leaves open occupational CV risk implications.
Kobayashi et al. (2005) conducted an observational in Healthy taxi drivers (n=20). Cigarette smoking vs. Baseline (5 minutes prior to smoking) was evaluated on LF/HF ratio within 5 minutes after smoking (p=<0.05). Cigarette smoking significantly increased the LF/HF ratio from 3.85 to 4.30 within 5 minutes during ordinary taxi driving, indicating acute sympathetic activation that was more prominent at night.
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