A Study of Heart Rate Variability among Gutkha Chewers from a Rural Farming Background in India

Abstract

Background:Modernisation of life style has affected the population even in rural areas leading to addiction.Smokeless tobacco is presumed to be less of an evil by the rural folk. Gutkha addicts are likely to suffer from mental and physical exhaustion leading to stress. This is important in view of the prevailing socio-economic as well as the healthcare system available in any developing country. Therefore the present study is designed to measure heart rate variability among this special group of population.Methods: 15 male subjects were enrolled from among the rural farm labors who regularly chewgutkha. They were free from any type of physical and mental health issues, non smokers. Each individual volunteer was subjected to HRV analysis on three occasions: the first record was performed on the first day of their arrival in the hospital as subjects during the lean season. The second observation was recorded after 3 months of farming activity. The final HRV analysis was done after 6 months of farming activity. Two types of parameters were analysed: time domain and frequency domain. Statistical analysis was done using paired t-test.Results: Both the HRV parameters -time and frequency domain, showed decreased values during the third month and sixth month recording as compared to the first week recording. The decrease is much more during the sixth month recording as compared to the third month recording. Statistically significant decrease is observed in mean RR interval, heart rate, VLF and LF only when the first week recording is compared with the third month recording but when the first week recording was compared with the sixth month recording significant decrease was found in mean RR interval and heart rate.Conclusion: Subjects involved in taking gutkha are likely to undergo a lot of physical and mental stress, thus affecting their autonomic status. This adds up to the stress induced by their occupation. HRV analysis using short term ECG recording was used to detect changes consequent to this stress.It was found that almost all HRV parameters measuring heart rate complexity were decreased in the period of farming activity. J o ur nal of A lc o h o lis m and D ru g D ep enden c e

Short-term acute effects of gutkha chewing on heart rate variability among young adults: A cross-sectional study

“…The results of this study suggest gutkha chewers experience an immediate rise in HR and rapid HRV response to acute tobacco exposure that do not persist 60 min following the end of exposure. [ 7 18 ] However, in agreement with some[ 29 ] but not all investigators, we were unable to show that the use of gutkha is associated with permanently raised HR and HRV variables. As is evident from this study, the hazards of gutkha are only partially known.…”

“…However, in a study by Pakkala et al . [ 29 ] Assessing the HRV among gutkha users, observed that the HRV parameters-time and frequency domain, showed significantly decreased values during the third month and sixth month recording after the exposure.…”

“…The cardiovascular system is influenced by the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Few researchers have thrown light on possible acute autonomic effects[ 23 24 ] and hemodynamic changes of ST in the form of heart rate variability (HRV)[ 25 26 27 28 29 ] and various studies as well document the consequence of addictive qualities of ST often changing into lifelong habit with cumulative and more deleterious effects on health. [ 30 31 ]…”

Heart rate variability among Tobacco Chewers: A Case Control Study

“…HRV is a simple, economic, non invasive technique to evaluate sympatho-vagal balance and widely used method to assess autonomic functional status. [12] Time domain parameters of HRV [14] and Pakkala A et al [13] was found to be higher These findings emphasized sympathetic over activity in tobacco chewers. These results were comparable with Pakkala A et al [13] , Doss DSD et al [16] Mean of HF n.u.…”

“…[12] Time domain parameters of HRV [14] and Pakkala A et al [13] was found to be higher These findings emphasized sympathetic over activity in tobacco chewers. These results were comparable with Pakkala A et al [13] , Doss DSD et al [16] Mean of HF n.u. (%) in tobacco chewers was significantly lower (33.21±10.25) as compared to control subjects (57.44±8.44), (p˂0.001) and LF/HF ratio was found to be significantly higher in tobacco chewers (2.39±1.39) as compared to in control subjects (0.76±0.21), (p˂0.001).…”