Effects of hypobaric-hypoxia on the salivary cortisol levels of aircraft pilots.
Obmiñski Z, Golec L, Stupnicki R, Hackney AC.
Aviat Space Environ Med 1997; 68:183-6.
Abstract
Introduction: There has been limited characterization of the endocrine
stress reactivity of aircraft pilots under the adverse environmental
condition of hypobaric-hypoxia. This seems especially true with
respect to using the non-invasive technique of salivary hormonal
analysis. Thus, the purpose of this study was to characterize the
salivary cortisol response to such an environmental stress.
Methods:
Some 53 pilots were exposed to 30 min of hypobaric-hypoxia (final
pressure, 540 hPa). The salivary cortisol levels were measured at
baseline (0 min), at 15 and 30 min into exposure (+15 and +30 min) and
30 min after the exposure ended (+60 min). The cortisol response of
each pilot was classified according to the difference between the +30
min and 0 min values. Responder categories were: increase (I),
decrease (D) or no change (N).
Results: Subjects were not evenly
distributed among the three response categories (p < 0.05). The
distributions were as follows; D = 5 pilots (9.4%), N = 17 pilots
(32.1%), and I = 31 pilots (58.5%). Further, significant (p < 0.05)
changes in cortisol levels were noted over the sampling times for the D
(+15 min to +60 min < 0 min) and I (+15 min to +60 min > 0 min)
responders, as well as between the D, N, and I responders at the +15 to
+60 min sampling times.
Conclusions: We conclude that no single
consistent change in salivary cortisol level occurred among the
different subjects in response to the level and duration of
hypobaric-hypoxia studied.
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