Autonomic Function Testing Aboard The ISS Using Pneumocard
- Paper number
IAC-07-A1.3.-A1.4.05
- Author
Dr. Jens Tank, Franz Volhard Clinical Research Center, Charité, Berlin-Buch, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Roman Baevsky, 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
M.D. Andrew Pashchenko, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russia
- Coauthor
Mrs. A.G. Chernikova, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russia
- Coauthor
Dr. Juergen Drescher, German Aerospace Center (DLR), United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Victor M. Baranov, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russia
- Year
2007
- Abstract
Aim. Investigations of blood pressure regulation, heart rate (HR), and heart rate variability (HRV) during long term space flights aboard the ”ISS” have shown individual changes of autonomic cardiovascular control. Alterations of the autonomic nervous system occurring during spaceflight may be responsible for inflight and postflight autonomic dysfunction occurring during work load (e.g. EVA) and continuous stressor influences. The portable device ”Pneumocard” was developed to further investigate autonomic control of cardiovascular and respiratory function on cosmonauts. Method. The miniaturized PC-based diagnostic complex "Pneumocard" was used during in-flight experiments on ISS for autonomic function testing. ECG, photoplethysmography, respiration, transthoracic bioimpedance and seismocardiography were assessed subsequently in one male cosmonaut (flight duration six month). Recordings and analysis were made prior to the flight, early and late in-flight as well as post-flight during spontaneous respiration and controlled respiration at different rates. Results. HR and cardiac output remained stable during flight. The values were comparable to supine pre-flight measurements. Respiratory frequency and blood pressure decreased during flight. Post flight HR and BP values increased compared to in-flight data exceeding pre-flight values. HRV during 5 sec respiration cycles remained high during flight and the high frequency spectral power increased. The LF/HF ratio was highest after flight. The low frequency power during 10 sec respiration cycles decreased during flight. Cardiac time intervals and pulse wave transit time did not change dramatically during flight. Conclusion. Our results demonstrate that autonomic function testing aboard the ISS using “Pneumocard” is feasible and generates data of good quality for the assessment of autonomic cardiovascular control. Moreover, autonomic testing during space flight detects individual changes in autonomic function and may add important information to standard medical operations as well as serve as prognostic criteria to prevent autonomic disorders. The recent pledge by the US President to support Space Exploration with human flights to Moon, Mars and beyond, makes these kinds of non-invasive investigations all the more relevant and compelling.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-A1.3.-A1.4.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.