Monitoring the heart rate variability of servicewomen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the legal regime of martial law

Abstract

The article features the results of the analysis of heart rate variability of 30 female military personnel (n=30). The purpose of this study was to assess the state of regulatory mechanisms of the autonomic nervous system. The analysis of heart rate variability indicators reflects the general level of autonomic regulation, which is important for assessing the physical and psychological state of military personnel. The RRNN parameter had a median of 814.5 ms, which corresponds to the norm for healthy individuals and indicates a normal level of cardiac activity of females being under the research. The SDNN indicator, which characterizes the total effect of autonomic regulation of blood circulation, was 37.4 ms on the median, which also corresponds to the norm and indicates an adequate level of adaptation capabilities of the body. However, RMSSD was at the median below normal, indicating reduced recovery and high levels of stress among female military personnel. pNN50, which reflects the proportion of consecutive RR intervals differing by more than 50 ms, was also below normal, further confirming reduced parasympathetic activity. The LF index was 301.0 ms² on the median of female military personnel, which is at the lower limit of the norm. The result we obtained may indicate a reduced sympathetic influence or a general depletion of adaptation reserves. The VLF indicator, which characterizes neurohumoral regulation, was also below the norm, which indicates a possible depletion of the body's adaptive reserves. Such studies make it possible to detect signs of fatigue or insufficient recovery in time and take the necessary measures to optimize the training process and the performance of official duties. Our research confirms that heart rate variability is an important indicator of the body's adaptive capabilities, especially in the conditions of martial law, where stress and physical exertion are constant factors of influence.