Novel presenteeism evaluation system using tailored individual reference of heart rate variability

Introduction To overcome a questionnaire’s limitations, objective and simple physiological indices for presenteeism are required. This study aimed to examine the feasibility of a novel method for identifying presenteeism that applies individualized references based on step count and heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring using a smartwatch.Methods This prospective study included 330 office workers (male ratio, 81.8%; age: 44 ± 11 years) without diagnosed disease who performed a 30-second HRV self-measurement each morning and daily step auto-collection for 45+ days and responded to the Japanese version of the work limitation questionnaire (WLQ-J). For the coefficient of variation of R-R interval (CVRR) and coefficient of component variance of the low-frequency to high-frequency power ratio (ccvL/H), for which individual references were calculated using holiday data, the average values for the last 2 weeks were analyzed. For step count, wherein the individual reference was calculated using all data during the trial, data from the day before the WLQ-J assessment were analyzed. Individual CVRR, ccvL/H, and step scores were collectively classified into eight categories, and the WLQ-J scores in each category were compared.Results Participants with lower CVRR, fewer steps, and higher ccvL/H exhibited higher at-work productivity loss scores than those with lower CVRR, lower ccvL/H, and more steps (Cohen’s d = 0.73, p = 0.02, 95% confidence interval = 1.19–4.29), particularly in time management and mental interpersonal task components.Conclusions This novel, individually tailored evaluation system demonstrated the ability to identify presenteeism, offering potential applications for health promotion.