Cardiac cost of occupational stress among obstetricians: a cross-sectional non-invasive haemodynamic study in a tertiary hospital

Objectives To identify early cardiovascular changes in normotensive obstetricians, a high-stress group, using non-invasive haemodynamic monitoring, and to examine the association between burnout and haemodynamic parameters. Participants A total of 120 healthy Han Chinese adults (aged 25–45 years, both sexes) were enrolled using stratified random sampling by age and categorised into three groups: obstetricians, clinical support staff and administrative personnel.

Of these, 105 (87.5%) completed the study and entered the final analysis (obstetricians n=40; clinical support staff n=33; administrative personnel n=32); 15 were excluded due to incomplete questionnaire data. Key exclusion criteria were chronic medical conditions, medication use, acute illness, a clinical shift within 24 hours before measurement, pregnancy or lactation, body mass index extremes (≤18.5 or ≥ 28 kg/m 2 ) and major life events within the past 6 months.

Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey; workload, lifestyle and family history were collected via questionnaire. Primary and secondary outcome measures Advanced haemodynamics were assessed via Ultrasonic Cardiac Output Monitor.

The primary outcome was cardiac power output (CPO).