Heart rate variability and electrocardiographic changes during acute mental stress in first MBBS students: An analytical study

Background: Stress is an inevitable part of life. It is a known fact that health of students is affected by the stresses of academic life. Excessive stress results in psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, poor decision-making, and suicide ideation. Stress disrupts the physiological functions of the body by affecting the brain. Cardiovascular system is also affected by stress. Stress and arrhythmias are linked with each other. Electrocardiogram (ECG) is commonly used to study cardiovascular disorders. This study was undertaken to highlight the effect of acute mental stress on the electrocardiographic changes and heart rate variability in first MBBS students. Aims and Objectives: The objectives of this study were as follows: 1. To assess the ECG changes and heart rate variability during stress in medical students and 2. to compare the changes of ECG and heart rate variability in resting state and during stress condition. Materials and Methods: After obtaining ethical clearance, the study included 50 healthy medical 1st year students in the age group of 18–22 years. ECG was recorded in those students at rest in supine position. Then, mental stress was induced on each by a number of mental tasks and ECG was recorded in them immediately. ECG recordings in relaxed state were compared with those in acute stress state. Results: There was statistically significant increase in heart rate, QTC, and P duration and decrease in PR, QRS, and QT interval in that QT interval was statistically significant found during acute mental stress. Conclusion: The study shows that there were varieties of ECG changes in acute mental stress that may affect the skill developments in medical graduates. Early identification, awareness creation, and necessary interventions such as meditation, yoga, body scanning, deep breathing, and self-massage may decrease the same.