Estratégia de enfrentamento ao estresse em agentes de trânsito de Salvador-Bahia: avaliação de biomarcadores, parâmetros hemodinâmicos e psicofisiológicos

Abstract

Introduction: Traffic agents are professionals who are highly affected by stress, which is often present in their work routine and associated with physical and psychological symptoms, with a risk of developing multifactorial diseases related to mental health. Different markers, such as psychometric, hemodynamic and biomarker parameters, have proven effective, when used together, to measure institutional interventions to promote mental health. One of these interventions, the SKY Resilience Program, uses the “Sudarshan Kryia” (or SKY) breathing technique and has been applied worldwide to first responders professionals. Objective: To investigate the individual physiological impacts of the intervention based on the SKY technique in traffic agents, by assessing the levels of biomarkers and hemodynamic and psychometric parameters before and after the intervention. Material and Methods: This is a quantitative study of before and after intervention, with male traffic agents, aged between 25 and 73 years, from operational units in Salvador, BA. Serum cortisol and other biomarkers were analyzed using automated techniques (Mindray, Labmax 560 and Roche E411), in addition to the application of validated psychometric questionnaires and the collection of hemodynamic and anthropometric data. Statistical analyses were performed using Graph Pad Prism 3.0 and SPSS version 10 software, according to the type of variable, considering p<0.05 as significant. Results: In the evaluation before the intervention, a positive correlation was found between cortisol and triglyceride levels (p=0.02; r=0.337). The PSS10 and Wagnild & Young resilience scales were negatively correlated with the perceived stress scale (p<0.001; r= -0.454 and -0.502) and with maximum and minimum blood pressure (p=0.001; r= -0.372 and -0.376). The mean heart rate parameters correlated negatively with blood pressure (p=0.001; r= -0.390 and -0.406). Regarding the evaluation of biomarkers and anthropometric and hemodynamic parameters before and after the intervention, a significant reduction in serum cortisol and glucose levels was found after the intervention (p=0.05 and p=0.02 respectively). Likewise, a significant reduction in stress and an increase in the agents' resilience values were found (p=0.04 and p=0.03 respectively), suggesting a positive impact of the SKY breathing technique. Conclusion: Despite the limitations arising from the work dynamics of traffic officers, there was a positive impact of the intervention on psychometric and physiological aspects.