Exploring HRV in Antarctic Overwintering Members of Asia

Reduce of Heart Rate Variability of Asian Antarctic Overwintering Members and the Impact Factors--A Prospective Observational Study

Extreme changes in the Antarctic environment can cause emotional and autonomic dysfunction. In this study, volunteers from the Antarctica stations in China provided scale scores and heart rate variability (HRV) data, which were used to assess the autonomic nervous system. Enroll twenty-two members from Zhongshan Station and the Great Wall Station who are overwintering. Using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale, and the SF-36 quality of life scale to evaluate the individual's general physical and mental health. Analyze HRV and other associated parameters.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Heart Rate Variability
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Antarctic environment

Detailed Description

This study was a prospective observational study. We selected 12 members in Antarctica at the Great Wall Station of the 37th Chinese Antarctic Scientific Expedition (CSEA) from March 2021 to April 2022. And 10 members in Antarctica at Zhongshan Station in the 38th CSEA from December 2021 to April 2023. There were 22 members in total. Team members are volunteers selected through interviews, followed by detailed medical and psychological examinations, and are made up of scientific and logistical staff. According to the different work content of the scientific expedition team members, and taking the average outdoor working time of 2 hours/day as the node, the scientific expedition team members are divided into outdoor groups (n=12) and indoor groups (n=10). Participants will be assessed on the day they enter the Antarctic station and leave. Assessments include HRV, SF-36 quality of life questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale. This study approved by the local ethics committee of Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, and conformed to the Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 22

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Shanghai
    • Shanghai, Shanghai, China, 200079
      • Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

This study was a prospective observational study. We selected 12 members in Antarctica at the Great Wall Station of the 37th Chinese Antarctic Scientific Expedition (CSEA) from March 2021 to April 2022. And 10 members in Antarctica at Zhongshan Station in the 38th CSEA from December 2021 to April 2023. There were 22 members in total. Team members are volunteers selected through interviews, followed by detailed medical and psychological examinations, and are made up of scientific and logistical staff.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Team members are volunteers selected through interviews, followed by detailed medical and psychological examinations, and are made up of scientific and logistical staff.

Exclusion Criteria:

• People with physical or mental illness

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
outdoor groups; Outdoor work time is more than 2 hours	Other: Antarctic environment; . According to the different work content of the scientific expedition team members, and taking the average outdoor working time of 2 hours/day as the node, the scientific expedition team members are divided into outdoor groups (n=12) and indoor groups (n=10). Participants will be assessed on the day they enter the Antarctic station and leave.
indoor groups; Outdoor work time is less than 2 hours	Other: Antarctic environment; . According to the different work content of the scientific expedition team members, and taking the average outdoor working time of 2 hours/day as the node, the scientific expedition team members are divided into outdoor groups (n=12) and indoor groups (n=10). Participants will be assessed on the day they enter the Antarctic station and leave.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
changes in HRV	Before and after the expedition to Antarctica, we conducted comparative analyses of HRV data.	members in Antarctica at Zhongshan Station in the 38th CSEA from December 2021 to April 2023

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ya-Wei Xu

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): September 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 23, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): April 26, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 26, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2024
• Last Verified: April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Heart Rate Variability (HRV); Antarctic Regions; Overwintering; Physical harm; Depression
• Other Study ID Numbers: 20dz1207200

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No