1. Heart Rate Variability and Cardiovascular Health in Police Officers
Betker, M., Snyder, E., West, Ian., & Brewer, G.
School of Kinesiology, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota
METHODS
RESULTS DISCUSSIONINTRODUCTION
Previous studies have demonstrated that Public
Safety Officers (PSOs) have higher levels of self-
reported stress when compared to the general
population. It is likely that higher job-related stress
leads to high levels of early cardiovascular death in
these individuals.
To our knowledge, no previous studies have
assessed heart rate variability (HRV) in PSOs, which
is a parameter that can predict early mortality.
Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess
HRV and heart rate recovery (HRR) following
maximal exercise (VO2MAX test), and the
relationship between these variables and
cardiovascular fitness in PSOs.
23 police officers, 16 males (30% female,
age=35±2years, height=177±2cm,
weight=91±20kg, BMI=28±1kg/m2, Body
fat=24±2%) were asked to come in for testing
within one hour of their normal wake-up time and
to refrain from any food, alcohol, caffeine or
tobacco for at least eight hours prior to testing.
Subjects’ resting HRV and HR was assessed (Kubios
HRV 2.2, Kuopio, Finland) while the subject rested
in a dark room in a supine position for 30 minutes.
A graded maximal exercise test measured values
for O2 consumption, HR, and HRR post-test.
REFERENCES
Our results show a significant, negative
relationship between VO2max and resting heart rate,
indicating that higher cardiorespiratory fitness is
associated with lower resting heart rate in PSOs.
Also, resting heart rate is positively correlated with
resting HRV as they are intrinsically mediated by
the autonomic nervous system.
During active recovery, 90 seconds post-maximal
exercise test, subjects who had a greater percent
drop from maximal HR also had a higher HRV at
rest, further linking the relationship between
autonomic nervous system health and
cardiovascular fitness.
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Men Women
N 16 7
Age 36.06 ± 9.49 32.57 ± 4.86
Height (in) 71.75 ± 3.27 65.96 ± 1.50
Weight (lbs) 215.01 ± 40.88 166.26 ± 53.34
BMI 29.15 ± 4.62 26.36 ± 7.26
% Body Fat 21.55 ± 8.26 29.37 ± 7.97
There was a moderate but non-significant
relationship between HRV and VO2max (r=0.46,
p=0.06) and a moderate and significant relationship
between HRV and HRR (r= -.052, p<0.05) at 90s
post-maximal exercise test during active recovery.
Also, a moderate and significant relationship
between average resting HR and VO2max (r= -0.64,
p<0.05) and resting HR and HRV (r=0.57, p<0.05).
0
20
40
60
80
100
30 35 40 45 50 55 60
HRV(ms)
VO2MAX
Correlation between Heart Rate Variability
and VO2MAX
r = 0.46
p = 0.06
0
50
100
150
10 15 20 25 30 35
HRV(ms)
HRR at 90s post-maximal exercise (% drop MHR)
Correlation between Heart Rate Variability
and Heart Rate Recovery at 90s
r = -0.52
p < 0.05