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Quantitative evaluation of stress in Japanese anesthesiology residents based on heart rate variability and psychological testing

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Abstract

Clinical anesthesiologists, particularly residents, work in stressful environments. However, evidence-based physiological and psychological tests to evaluate stress are still lacking. In this single-center study of 33 residents, we investigated the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV), which had the potential to screen residents’ stress levels using Holter electrocardiography (ECG) and psychological mood as assessed by the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire. HRV analysis revealed 2 findings. Firstly, standard deviation of the average of 5-min normal-to-normal R–R intervals (SDANN) was significant lower than that of same-aged healthy volunteers (69.3 ± 27.9 vs. 137.0 ± 43.0 ms, P < 0.05), which indicated suppression of autonomic nervous system activity throughout their work. Secondly, at induction of anesthesia, significant higher low frequency/high frequency ratio (LF/HF ratio: 1.326 vs. 0.846; P < 0.05) and lower HF (3326 vs. 5967 ms2; P < 0.05) and lower standard deviation of normal-to-normal R–R intervals (SDNN: 50.5 vs. 79.4 ms; nervous system was suppressed at the induction of anesthesia: expected to be the most stressful period of their work. On the other hand, deviation scores of POMS questionnaire elucidated that all the residents were within normal range of psychological mood, and without any significant diurnal changes with respect to total mood disturbance deviation (TMD) scores (48 vs. 47; P = 0.368). HRV elucidated physiological stress among anesthesiology residents quantitatively by evaluating autonomic nervous activities, especially at induction of anesthesia. These changes in HRV could be observed regardless of psychological mood.

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Abbreviations

AH:

Anger-hostility

ANS:

Autonomic nervous system

CB:

Confusion-bewilderment

DD:

Depression-dejection

ECG:

Electrocardiography

F:

Friendship

FFT:

Fast Fourier transform

FI:

Fatigue-inertia

HF:

High frequency

HRV:

Heart rate variability

LF:

Low frequency

LF/HF:

Low frequency/high frequency

PNS:

Parasympathetic nervous system

POMS:

Profile of mood states

SDANN:

Standard deviation of the average of 5-min normal-to-normal R-R intervals

SDNN:

Standard deviation of the normal-to-normal R-R intervals

SNS:

Sympathetic nervous system

TA:

Tension-anxiety

TMD:

Total mood disturbance

TP:

Total power

VA:

Vigor-activity

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to everyone who helped us successfully complete this research study, especially Kanji Uchida of the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Relief Center at The University of Tokyo Hospital, for providing logical and objective guidance for our study and statistical advice, and serving as the chairman of the resident educational working group in our department.

Funding

This study was funded by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) No. 26670244.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Relief Center, The University of Tokyo Hospital, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan

    Kohshi Hattori, Masaaki Asamoto, Nobuko Ito, Satoshi Kasahara, Yoko Hashimoto & Yoshitsugu Yamada

  2. Department of Anesthesiology, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, 2-14-23 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8798, Japan

    Mikiya Otsuji

  3. Department of Neuropsychiatry, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

    Satoshi Kasahara

Authors
  1. Kohshi Hattori
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  2. Masaaki Asamoto
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  3. Mikiya Otsuji
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  4. Nobuko Ito
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  5. Satoshi Kasahara
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  6. Yoko Hashimoto
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  7. Yoshitsugu Yamada
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Contributions

KH contributed to conceptualization, data collection, formal analysis, methodology and preparing the manuscript. MA contributed to conceptualization, data collection and editing the manuscript, MO contributed to statistical support. NI helped data collection and approved the final manuscript. SK attested the psychological mood evaluation. YH helped data collection. YY helped conduct the study as the supervisor and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Masaaki Asamoto.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Institutional review board

This study was reviewed and approved by the ethics committee of The University of Tokyo, Faculty of Medicine (Tokyo, Japan, #10699). This study was also registered to University hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry (Tokyo, Japan #UMIN000019247).

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Hattori, K., Asamoto, M., Otsuji, M. et al. Quantitative evaluation of stress in Japanese anesthesiology residents based on heart rate variability and psychological testing. J Clin Monit Comput 34, 371–377 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10877-019-00305-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10877-019-00305-z

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