Work Ability Assessment and Its Relationship with Cardiovascular Autonomic Profile in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

Franca Barbic, Maura Minonzio, Beatrice Cairo, Dana Shiffer, Antonio Roberto Zamuner, Silvia Cavalieri, Franca Dipaola, Nicola Magnavita, Alberto Porta and Raffaello Furlan
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Franca Barbic: Internal Medicine, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center—IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano-Milan, Italy
Maura Minonzio: Internal Medicine, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center—IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano-Milan, Italy
Beatrice Cairo: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
Dana Shiffer: Internal Medicine, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center—IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano-Milan, Italy
Antonio Roberto Zamuner: Departamento de Kinesiología, Universidad Católica del Maule, 3480112 Talca, Maule, Chile
Silvia Cavalieri: Department of Life Sciences & Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
Franca Dipaola: Internal Medicine, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center—IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano-Milan, Italy
Nicola Magnavita: Department of Life Sciences & Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
Alberto Porta: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
Raffaello Furlan: Internal Medicine, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center—IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano-Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-15

Abstract: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) negatively impacts quality of life. The excessive increase in cardiac sympathetic modulation during standing, which characterizes POTS patients, leads to many symptoms and signs of orthostatic intolerance. Little is known about the consequences of the disease on work performance and its relationship with individual autonomic profiles. Twenty-two POTS patients regularly engaged in working activity (20 females, age 36 ± 12 years) and 18 gender- and age-matched controls underwent a clinical evaluation and filled out the Work Ability Index (WAI) questionnaire. POTS patients completed the Composite Autonomic Symptom Score (COMPASS31) questionnaire, underwent continuous electrocardiogram, blood pressure and respiratory activity recordings while supine and during a 75° head-up tilt (HUT). A power spectrum analysis provided the index of cardiac sympatho-vagal balance (LF/HF). WAI scores were significantly reduced in POTS patients (29.84 ± 1.40) compared to controls (45.63 ± 0.53, p < 0.01). A significant inverse correlation was found between individual WAI and COMPASS31 scores (r = −0.46; p = 0.03), HUT increase in heart rate (r = −0.57; p = 0.01) and LF/HF (r = −0.55; p = 0.01). In POTS patients, the WAI scores were inversely correlated to the intensity of autonomic symptoms and to the excessive cardiac sympathetic activation induced by the gravitational stimulus.

Keywords: autonomic nervous system; heart rate variability; arterial pressure; baroreflex; spectral analysis; head-up tilt; work ability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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