Bioelectrical impedance parameters, heart rate variability, physical activity and sedentary lifestyles of employees at a higher education institution: BIA BRASIL Project

• Grant number: 23/17565-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Luis Alberto Gobbo
• Grantee: Lara Julia Montezori Costa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the main causes of death in Brazil, and the assessment of cardiovascular health is essential for detecting the risk of cardiovascular events and subsequent decision-making for effective prevention strategies. Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is an accurate measure of cardiovascular health that makes it possible to assess cardiovascular health and the adaptive capacity of the heart. Even though physical activity (PA) is an important tool for improving health and preventing CVDs, a large portion of the Brazilian population does not reach recommended levels of PA. This population presents relevant sedentary behavior (SB), with negative impacts on health. Another assessment method that has been associated with some health outcomes is bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), a cost-effective and easy to apply method. Currently, BIA has been used to assess membrane integrity and cellular health, allowing relationships to be established between such variables and different physio-morpho functional parameters. In this sense, the present study aims to investigate whether there is a relationship between bioelectrical impedance parameters and heart rate variability, physical activity and sedentary behavior in individuals of different age groups and lifestyles, and also whether the possible relationships between bioelectrical impedance parameters and heart rate variability are mediated by SB and PA level. The bioelectrical impedance analysis will be carried out with tetrapolar equipment to obtain resistance and reactance values, with subsequent calculation of the phase angle and analysis of bioelectrical impedance vectors, to compare cellular health parameters with HRV, according to gender, and age groups with different levels of PA and SB. To analyze HRV, a heart rate receiver will be used, when time and frequency indices will be used, using spectral components and also spectral analysis using the fast Fourier transform algorithm. For analysis using non-linear methods, the Poincaré plot will be used. Accelerometry will be used for seven days, in addition to the application of the IPAQ questionnaire to analyze physical activity and sedentary behavior. To analyze the relationship between health variables, bivariate correlation and simple and multiple linear regression methods will be used. The statistical analysis will be carried out using SPSS version 29.0 with a significance level of 5%, and BIVA 2002 for analysis of impedance vectors (tolerance and confidence ellipses). (AU)