AUTONOMIC CONTROL AND LUNG VOLUMES: IMPACTS OF VEHICULAR STRESS ON MOTORCYCLISTS IN THE FEDERAL DISTRICT

Abstract

Motorcycle workers are in constant exposure to air, noise and life-threatening pollution in the environment leading to an inflammatory response in the respiratory system, increased pulmonary and chronic diseases, cardiorespiratory morbidity. The objective of this research is to evaluate the impacts of vehicular stress on motorcyclists through cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory tests. We analyzed 11 middle-aged male individuals, who had been using motorcycles at least once a week for at least one year, who were non-smokers. The study found a statistically significant difference in the heart rate variability (HRV) indices in the supine, sedated, and orthostatic positions, as well as ventilatory disorders through spirometry. The present study demonstrated that there was no significant difference between the supine and sedented positions. For orthostatism, there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). In the spirometry test, individuals who presented results within the normal range (45.45%), followed by mild restrictive (36.36%), moderate restrictive (9.09%), and obstructive (9.09%). Thus, it is possible to observe that motorcyclists do not present modulations in different postures as described in the literature, in addition to a restrictive pattern of different levels in 45.45% of the sample.