Key result
Wearing personal protective equipment for three hours significantly reduced time-domain heart rate variability, increased heart rate (p=0.048), and decreased oxygen saturation (p=0.035).
Why the study?
Personal protective equipment has been reported to affect heart rate variability in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, but detailed changes and related factors were not fully investigated.
Does wearing personal protective equipment for three hours reduce heart rate variability in healthy healthcare workers?
Observational (n=65)
No
Does wearing personal protective equipment for three hours reduce heart rate variability in healthy healthcare workers?
Wearing PPE for three hours during COVID-19 patient care significantly reduces time-domain heart rate variability and oxygen saturation in healthcare workers.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
PPE-associated HRV reduction in workers should not yet change practice; leaves open clinical relevance and need for prospective trials.
Background: Personal protective equipment (PPE), an essential shield to protect healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been reported to affect their heart rate variability (HRV). Objective: To investigate the changes of very short-term heart rate variability in HCWs after three hours of wearing PPE to treat COVID-19 patients at different working times and intensities, and related factors. Methods: Sixty-five healthy HCWs were enrolled at the Number 2 Infectious Field Hospital (formed by Military Hospital 103), Vietnam. Two-minute 12-lead electrocardiograms were recorded before wearing and after removing PPE. Results: After three hours of wearing PPE, the mean heart rate of HCWs increased (p = 0.048) meanwhile, the oxygen saturation decreased significantly (p = 0.035). Standard deviation of all normal to normal intervals (SDNN), mean intervals RR (mean NN), and root mean square successive difference (rMSSD) after wearing PPE was also reduced significantly. SDNN, Mean NN, and rMSSD decreased as the working intensity increased (as in mild, moderate, and severe patient departments). In univariate regression analysis, logSDNN, logmean NN and logrMSSD were positively correlated with SpO2 and QT interval (r = 0.14, r = 0.31, r = 0.25; r = 0.39, r = 0.77, r = 0.73, respectively) and were negatively correlated with ambient temperature inside PPE (r = -0.41, r = -0.405, r = -0.25, respectively) while logmean NN and log rMSSD were negatively correlated with diastolic blood pressure (r = -0.43, r = -0.39, respectively). In multivariable regression analysis, logSDNN and logmean NN were negatively correlated to ambient temperature inside PPE (r = -0.34, r = -0.18, respectively). Conclusion: Time-domain heart rate variability decreased after wearing PPE. Time-domain HRV parameters were related to ambient temperature inside PPE, diastolic blood pressure, QT interval, and SpO2.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Le et al. (2023) conducted an observational in Healthy healthcare workers (n=65). Three-hour wearing of personal protective equipment vs. Baseline (before wearing PPE) was evaluated on Heart rate variability, heart rate, and oxygen saturation (p=0.048). Wearing personal protective equipment for three hours significantly reduced time-domain heart rate variability, increased heart rate (p=0.048), and decreased oxygen saturation (p=0.035).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: