Autonomic Cardiovascular and RespiratoryControl Testing Onboard ISS for Crew Health Monitoring
- Paper number
IAC-06-A1.5.04
- Author
Dr. Jens Tank, Franz Volhard Clinical Research Center, Charité, Berlin-Buch, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Victor M. Baranov, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russia
- Coauthor
Dr. Roman Baevsky, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russia
- Coauthor
M.D. Andrew Pashchenko, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russia
- Coauthor
Dr. Irina I. Funtova, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russia
- Coauthor
Prof. André Diedrich, Vanderbilt University, GCRC, United States
- Coauthor
Mrs. A.G. Chernikova, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russia
- Coauthor
Dr. Juergen Drescher, German Aerospace Center (DLR), United States
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Background Investigations during short and long term space flights have shown characteristic individual autonomic function control pattern which may be responsible for inflight and postflight cardiovascular deconditioning. We presented recently (R.M. Baevsky et al., Fukuoka 2005) the results from off-line analysis of in-flight measurements in five cosmonauts indicating individual differences but overall stable cardiovascular control and even decreased mean heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate during long-term flight. This report presents the most recent results of the autonomic function testing in the space environment to assess its effects on human performance. Method The new hard-software diagnostic complex "Pulse", a technology for human long-duration space exploration, was used for routine inflight ECG, photoplethysmography and breathing measurements in two male cosmonauts during ISS missions. Recordings were made 60, and 30 days prior to the flight, every four weeks during flight, and 3 and 6 days postflight during spontaneous breathing and controlled breathing at rates of 12 and 6 per minute. Orthostatic testing was performed pre- and postflight. Results Mean heart rate (HR), breathing rate, and blood pressure (BP) did not change significantly in the two cosmonauts. However, heart rate variability data in the time and frequency domain differed significantly between cosmonauts at baseline as well as during controlled breathing. Moreover, the dynamic of these changes during flight was different, which underlines the individual remodeling pattern of autonomic cardiovascular and respiratory control. Interestingly, pronounced changes during flight were found in the very low frequency (VLF) band of heart rate variability. This finding suggests that VLF is an important marker in long term adaptation, which may reflect neurohumoral rather than reflex mechanisms. Conclusion Our data suggest that autonomic cardiovascular control changes profoundly in individual astronauts despite stable HR, BP and breathing rate. These individual differences may characterize types of autonomic regulation. Combining hemodynamic reaction pattern with monitoring of cardiovascular control (devices “Pulse” and “Pneumocard”) is essential to define the individual regulatory types, which may influence in-flight and post-flight deconditioning and to assess human performance required for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
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