Introduction: Heavy working conditions and many unpropitious factors influencing workers health participate in development of various health disorders, among other autonomic cardiovascular regulation malfunction. The aim of this study is to draw a comparison of autonomic nervous system functional age and heart rate variability changes between workers with and without mining occupational exposure.
Material and methods: Short term HRV was measured by DiANS PF8 device in men with and without occupational mining exposure (exposure for 10 years at least) using standard orthoclinostathic protocol (each phase 300 sec or 300 heartbeats if heart rate under 60 bpm), excluding those with severe cardiovascular, metabolic, or psychiatric diseases, nicotine and other drugs abuse, as well as those, who underwent heavy stress situation during last year.
Results: Evaluating 41 HRV records among miners (n=24, age 47.9 ± 6.1 years, exposure 22.5 ± 5 years) and non-miners (n=17, age 48.5 ± 6.9 years) we found significantly increased difference between functional age of ANS and calendar age in miners group (+7.2 ± 7.3 years) over against the non-miners group (−1.6 ± 6.5 years). No correlation was found between exposure duration and functional age of ANS difference. Analysis of HRV parameters show significant reduction in total spectral power, LF, HF and rMSSD in mine workers above 48 years of age.
Discussion and conclusion: Our results show that influence of occupational work factors from mining exposure can clearly take part in worsening the reactivity of ANS, which can be associated with greater risk of developing mostly cardiovascular diseases. It is important to think of non-occupational factors improving or deteriorating ANS reactivity and of individual sensitivity to other external factors.
