Publication Abstracts

Reduced Baroreceptor Reflex Sensitivity and Increased Blood Pressure Variability at 2400 m Simulated Cabin Altitude

Knut Sevre, Bjørn Bendz, and Morten Rostrup
Aviat Space Environ Med 2002; 73:632-4

Abstract

In a hypobaric chamber nine healthy volunteers were exposed to an atmospheric pressure corresponding to 2400 m above sea level. This is similar to the lowest air pressure encountered inside pressurized commercial airplanes. Heart rate and blood pressure were monitored beat-to-beat in the supine position with a non-invasive device. Blood pressure variability and heart rate variability were measured in the mid-frequency band; subsequently, baroreceptor reflex sensitivity (BRS) was calculated with the transfer-function method. Compared with baseline, there were reduced BRS and increased blood pressure variability at 2400 m (16.5 ± 3.1 vs. 13.2 ± 2.0 ms · mm Hg^-1 and 5.4 ± 1.3 vs. 8.2 ± 1.1 mm Hg, respectively; p < 0.05). We conclude that autonomic cardiovascular control was disturbed during acute exposure to an air pressure corresponding to 2400 m.

Keywords: autonomic nervous system, hypoxia, blood pressure variability, heart rate variability.

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Table of Contents for Volume 73, Number 7 of the ASME journal.