BACKGROUND: The dynamic effects of duty events on the blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variability (HRV) of physicians on duty are unknown. METHODS: A study was conducted among 12 physicians on night duty. BP and HRV with and without the effect of a duty event were compared. The risk of higher BP and impaired HRV after a phone call were calculated. RESULTS: Physicians had higher mean BP (122.4 +/- 11.1; 76.9 +/- 7.1 mmHg) within 30 min after a phone calls than without a phone call (113.5 +/- 5.3; 69.0 +/- 3.8) and higher sympathetic tone (low frequency normalized units (LFnu) 68.5 +/- 8.9; high frequency normalized units (HFnu) 27.7 +/- 8.7) within 10 min of a phone call than without a phone call (62.9 +/- 8.51; 33.5 +/- 8.4). Elevated BP and sympathetic tone recovered to baseline levels 30 min after a phone call. CONCLUSIONS: Among physicians on night duty, sympathetic tone and BP might be elevated by clinical events, and these effects last for 30 min.
Date:
2018-08
Relation:
American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2018 Aug;61(8):675-680.
