Analysis of the heart rate variability of the operational-level officers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Abstract

the study of the adaptive capabilities of the cardiovascular system of servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine requires a comprehensive study. this issue is relevant in the conditions of the legal regime of martial law. The purpose of the research was to study conditions of the regulatory mechanisms of the vegetativenervous system of servicemen in the conditions of the legal regime of martial law. to solve the defined goal, we conducted a study of a group of operational-level officers (n=201, the average age of the subjects was 36.4 years). the study was conducted using a multifunctional device “mPFI Rhythmograph-1”. Heart rate variability and the obtained results were processed using methods of mathematical statistics. The research’s results of heart rate parameters in operational-level officers were conducted on the basis of time, spectral and autocorrelation indicators. According to the results of the study, it was found that the sympathetic nervous system dominates in military personnel. this indicates a intensification of the autonomous regulation of heart rate. the obtained results of the heart rate variability of the operational-level officersindicate increasing of sympathetic influences, which may be related with increasing level of fatigue. the obtained results of spectral indicators showed the presence of extreme values in the ranges of 75 % percentile. this indicates a violation of metabolic and energy processes in the studied group. the study of the indicators of autocorrelation analysis helped us to obtain additional information about officers’ heart rate. the obtained median result is 0.810 units. this indicates a high degree of correlation between successive heart rate intervals with one interval distance. A correlation analysis was also conducted and it was determined that the median result is 19.0 pairs of intervals. Conclusions. the interpretation of the obtained results can be useful for studying the physiological condition of operational-level officers during combat missions. the results can be used to develop training programs. And this will help to reduce the impact of stress on the servicemen, to increase the adaptive capabilities and to monitor their functional conditions.