ssociation between awakening cortisol levels and cardiovascular performance in sugarcane rural worker

Author(s)

Souza-Talarico, Juliana Nery ^{[1, 2]} ; Santos, Sheila ^[3] ; Trevisan Zanetta, Dirce Maria ^[4] ; Marcourakis, Tania ^[5] ; Santos, Ubiratan Paula ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Nursing, Dept Med Surg Nursing, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Iowa, Coll Nursing, Iowa City, IA 52242 - USA

^[3] Fac Med Jundiai, Dept Nursing, Jundiai - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Publ Hlth, Dept Epidemiol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Clin & Toxicol Anal, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Hosp Clin, Fac Med, Pulm Div, Heart Inst InCor, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: STRESS AND HEALTH; v. 38, n. 1 JUL 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Sudden deaths without known causes have been reported among rural workers in the last decade, especially in low and middle-income countries. The current study aimed to analyse the association between awakening cortisol response and cardiovascular performance in rural workers before and after the harvesting period. Fifty-four rural male workers and 48 residents were included (non-rural workers) from a sugarcane production area in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Morning salivary cortisol were analysed before and 7 months after the beginning of burnt sugarcane harvesting. Cardiovascular performance (blood pressure, pulse pressure and heart rate HR) was evaluated using the Incremental Shuttle Walking Test (ISWT). Our findings revealed a negative association between CAR and cardiovascular performance in rural workers at the harvesting period. Specifically, morning cortisol levels significantly increased after seven months of intense harvesting activity, allied to improvements in physical performance, systolic blood pressure and heart rate reactivity to a cardiopulmonary task. No association was observed in the resident group. Altogether, these findings suggest that, at least in the short-term, rural workers presented an adaptive response to the physical demands of sugarcane harvesting work. Longitudinal studies are essential to investigate the long-term effects of harvesting activity on rural workers' health. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/54885-8 - Influence of sugar and alchool industry occupation on neuroendocrine stress activity, cardiorespiratory and on cognitive performance in sugar cane workers
• Grantee: Ubiratan de Paula Santos
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants