Does Physical Activity and Cell Phone Usage Affect Heart Rate Variability in Paramedic Students?

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. HRV, which reflects the modulatory capacity of the autonomous nervous system, plays a crucial role in influencing mortality. Aims/Objectives: In this cross-sectional study, we investigate the impact of physical exercise and cell phone usage on HRV measures. The objective of this study is to find that physical activity and usage of cell phones influence heart rate variability in paramedical students. Method: A total of 94 paramedical students (70 females and 24 males) aged 18-25 (mean age 20.4±1.5) volunteered for this study. Physical activity and duration of the mobile usage were measured using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-short form) and structured questionnaire respectively. A 5-minute short-term HRV measurement was obtained by Kubios HRV smart phone application. Each participant was rested in supine for 10 minutes before the HRV measurement and was instructed to remain relaxed, breathe normally, avoid talking and sleep during the measurement. Time domain (SDNN, RMSSD) and frequency domain parameters (LF power, HF power, and LF/HF ratio) were measured for HRV analysis. Result: Study found no significant association between physical activity and smartphone usage with HRV measures in males and females. Conclusion: This study concludes that there is no correlation of physical activity and mobile phone usage on heart rate variability parameters. However, due to increased cell phone usage and low physical activity among college students, assessing these factors can assist to prevent future negative events and enhance health awareness.