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Are our nurses healthy? Cardiorespiratory fitness in a very exhausting profession
Markéta Sovová1, Eliška Sovová1, Marie Nakládalová2
1Department of Exercise Medicine and Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Insights
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in nurses over 50 revealed significant health issues, including abnormal blood pressure and arrhythmias. Regular CPET screenings can detect hidden diseases, improving healthcare professional well-being and reducing risks associated with low cardiorespiratory fitness.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Occupational Health
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is linked to increased mortality and disease risk.
- Healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, experience high rates of burnout and risk factors.
- Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a precise method for assessing CRF.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) of nurses over 50 years old.
- To compare their CRF levels with population norms.
- To identify potential health risks and hidden diseases in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 90 nurses (mean age 55.7) underwent Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) using the Bruce protocol.
- Key parameters assessed included resting blood pressure, maximal oxygen consumption, and W/kg.
- Abnormal findings prompted further medical examinations and potential medication adjustments.
Main Results:
- 67.8% of nurses had suboptimal maximal oxygen consumption, and 46.2% had low W/kg.
- Significant findings included hypertension reactions (31.1%), arrhythmias (18.9%), and signs of ischemia (8.9%).
- 46.6% of nurses required further examination, leading to medication changes in 23.3% and new diagnoses in 15 nurses.
Conclusions:
- Regular medical check-ups incorporating CPET can significantly increase the detection of undiagnosed conditions in nurses.
- Implementing CPET can lead to improved health management and better care for healthcare professionals.
- Proactive assessment of CRF through CPET is crucial for mitigating health risks in physically demanding occupations.
Objectives:
Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is related to higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, increase in all-cause mortality and higher risk of different tumors. The reverse is also true; improvement in CRF is related to decrease in mortality. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a standard and also the most precise test for determination of CRF - the best possibility is the maximal test measuring different parameters including maximal oxygen consumption. Healthcare professionals throughout the developed world have markedly high rates of sickness absence, burnout, and distress compared to other sectors and this leads to higher risk factors. The study aimed to assess CRF in a group of nurses in a big hospital and compare it with population norms and available published results.
Methods:
Nurses over 50 years of age working in one faculty hospital were gradually included in the study from the beginning of 2018. These nurses work in physically demanding positions. A CPET was carried out following the Bruce protocol.
Results:
90 nurses (84 females and 6 males), mean age 55.7 years, were evaluated by CPET. The resting blood pressure was within the norm in 58 persons (64.44%), maximal oxygen consumption in 61 persons (67.8%), W/kg in 25 persons (46.2%). We detected a hypertension reaction in 28 persons (31.1%), some types of arrhythmia in 17 persons (18.9%) and signs of ischaemia in 8 persons (8.9%). The result of CPET led to further examination in 42 persons (46.6%). Detailed examination resulted in change of medication in 21 nurses (23.3%). New diseases were diagnosed in 15 nurses (hypertension, atrial fibrillation, mitral valve prolapse indicated for cardiac surgery, coronary artery stenosis, and lipid disorders).
Conclusions:
It was concluded that the usage of CPET during the regular medical check-ups significantly increases detection of hidden diseases and thus improves the care for nurses.
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