Heart Rate Variability During Examination Stress in Medical Students

Stress has been investigated as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and for reduced human performances. This study investigates the variations of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) due to a reallife situation of examination stress which is a known stressor to examination going students. Sixteen first year MBBS students were selected randomly to participate in the study to know heart rate variability (HRV) during the examination period. After noting all the anthropometric parameters, three recordings were performed for each student: the first assessment was done during college cultural week and it served as control, the second reading was taken on the day of their second terminal viva voce examination and the final reading was taken on the viva voce examination during professional examination. Nonlinear analysis of HRV was performed using mean RR interval, Heart rate, RMSSD, NN50, pNN50, VLF, LF, HF and LF/HF ratio. Almost all HRV features measuring heart rate complexity were decreased in the stress period results indicating a decline in HRV during stress. It is also established that non parametric HRV analysis using short term ECG recording could be effective in detecting real-life stressful conditions.