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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04003883

ST-T Segment Changes in Emergency Physicians While on Duty

Preclinical emergency management is frequently associated with a combination of physical and psychological stress.

This stress is known to lead to a broad variety of changes in the physiology even extending in the cardiovascular system. Both physical and psychological stress induces ECG changes. These changes include not only arrhythmias but also deviations in ST-T segment representing the phase of repolarization.

Information about changes in ST-T segment are missing until now. The investigators hypothesise that ST-T deviations occur in emergency physicians during shift at an emergency response car.

In order to show changes in ST-T segment a prospective observational trial will be conducted. By using a 12 lead ECG Holter the investigators will obtain ECGs during shifts of emergency physicians at an emergency response vehicle.

During 12-hour shifts emergency physicians will be attached to the 12 lead Holter ECG. ECGs will be analysed after blinding of names and reason of call (code) to the investigators. The primary outcome will be ST-T segment changes greater than 0.1mV in two corresponding leads for more than 30 seconds per 100 calls.

As secondary outcomes, other ECG changes such as ST-T segment changes <0.1mV, T wave inversion or HRV will be analysed. Furthermore, surrogate parameter of stress will be measured using NASA-Task Load Index and cognitive appraisal and correlated to ST-T segment changes. Correlations between different phases of calls, different indications of calls and ECG changes will be assessed. Furthermore, correlation between alarm codes apriori defined as stressfull using a delphi process and ST-T segment changes as well es surrogate parameters of stress will be assessed.

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Key information

Conditions

ST-T Segment Changes

Age range

18 year–68 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Medical University of Vienna

Vienna, 1090, Austria

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy emergency physicians doing shifts at the Medical University of Vienna's emergency response car

Exclusion criteria

  • Known pregnancy
  • Pre-existing cardiac diseases (valvular heart disease > I°, any form of cardiomyopathy, history of coronary artery disease, history of myocarditis, any channelopathy, known high degree (>1% of all beats within 24h) premature atrial or ventricular beats or atrial fibrillation or conduction disturbance.
  • Any antiarrhythmic therapy
  • Any implanted cardiac device
  • Manifest Hyperthyroidism
  • Termination of exercise testing due to the commonly used criteria26 or not reaching 85% of maximal predicted load.

Treatment and study plan

Holter ECG

Device

A Holter ECG will be recorderd during shifts

Primary outcomes

  1. ST-T segment change

    Time frame: Day1-3

    ST-T segment changes of at least 0.1mV in two corresponding leads occurring for more than 30 seconds per 100 prehospital emergency response calls

Secondary outcomes

  1. ST-T segment change <0.1mV, <30sec.

    Time frame: Day1-3

  2. T wave inversion > 30sec.

    Time frame: Day1-3

  3. T wave inversion <= 30sec.

    Time frame: Day1-3

  4. Changes in HRV

    Time frame: Day1-3

    Changes in HRV (SDNN, r-MSSD and pNN50) during calls compared to a baseline of 10min rest recorded at the beginning of shift as an emergency physician

  5. Association of different phases of a call to changes in ST-T segments > 0.1mV in two corresponding leads for > 30sec.

    Time frame: Day1-3

  6. Association of different phases of a call to changes in HRV (SDNN, r-MSSD and pNN50)

    Time frame: Day1-3

  7. Association of the ten most stressful alarm codes to changes in ST-T segments > 0.1mV in two corresponding leads for > 30sec.

    Time frame: Day1-3

  8. Association of the ten most stressful alarm codes to changes in HRV (SDNN, r-MSSD and pNN50)

    Time frame: Day1-3

  9. Psychological stress during calls by means of NASA TLX

    Time frame: Day1-3

  10. Frequency of calls being perceived as threat by using cognitive appraisal testing

    Time frame: Day1-3

  11. Association of stressful and non-stressful calls to psychological stress measured using NASA TLX

    Time frame: Day1-3

  12. Association of stressful and non-stressful calls to cognitive appraisal and calls that are perceived as threat.

    Time frame: Day1-3

  13. Correlation of events logged

    Time frame: Day1-3

    Correlation of events logged by the emergency physician (treating a child, managing polytrauma, being woken up by the alarm, experiencing chest pain, performing an intubation or giving i.v. medication) to ST-T segment changes > 0.1mV in two corresponding leads for > 30sec.

  14. Association of NASA TLX to ST-T segment changes > 0.1mV in two corresponding leads for > 30sec.

    Time frame: Day1-3

  15. Association of cognitive appraisal to ST-T segment changes > 0.1mV in two corresponding leads for > 30sec.

    Time frame: Day1-3

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Medical University of Vienna

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Jul 1, 2019
Registry last updated
Feb 15, 2022

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.