04 January 2013
Adaptation of autonomic heart rate regulation in astronauts after spaceflight
Steven VandeputCDEF, Devy WidjajaCDEF, Andre E. AubertABFG, Sabine Van HuffelAFGDOI: 10.12659/MSM.883724
Med Sci Monit 2013; 19:9-17
Abstract
Background: Spaceflight causes changes in the cardiovascular control system. The aim of this study was to evaluate postflight recovery of linear and nonlinear neural markers of heart rate modulation, with a special focus on day-night variations.
Material/Methods: Twenty-four-hour Holter ECG recordings were obtained in 8 astronauts participating in space missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Data recording was performed 1 month before launch, and 5 and 30 days after return to Earth from short- and long-term flights. Cardiovascular control was inferred from linear and nonlinear heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, separately during 2-hour day and 2-hour night recordings.
Results: No remarkable differences were found in the postflight recovery between astronauts from short- and long-duration spaceflights. Five days after return to Earth, vagal modulation was significantly decreased compared to the preflight condition (day: p=0.001; night: p=0.019), while the sympathovagal balance was strongly increased, but only at night (p=0.017). A few nonlinear parameters were reduced early postflight compared to preflight values, but these were not always statistically significant. No significant differences remained after 30 days of postflight recovery.
Conclusions: Our results show that 5 days after return from both short- and long-duration space missions, neural mechanisms of heart rate regulation are still disturbed. After 1 month, autonomic control of heart rate recovered almost completely.
Keywords: Nonlinear Dynamics, heart rate variability, autonomic regulation, Microgravitational adaptations
Editorial
01 February 2025 : Editorial
Editorial: Current Approaches to Screening for Lung Cancer in Smokers and Non-SmokersDOI: 10.12659/MSM.948255
Med Sci Monit 2025; 31:e948255
In Press
Clinical Research
Procedure Dynamics in Transfemoral vs Transradial Cerebral Angiography: A Retrospective StudyMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.947603
Clinical Research
Predicting Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden Based on Thromboelastography in Patients with Acute Ischemi...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.946303
Clinical Research
Long-Term Outcomes of Implanon in Managing Adenomyosis: A 3-Year Prospective StudyMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.945972
Laboratory Research
Linear Dimensional Accuracy in Maxillomandibular Records: A Comparative Study of Scannable and Transparent ...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.947265
Most Viewed Current Articles
17 Jan 2024 : Review article 6,969,459
Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron VariantDOI :10.12659/MSM.942799
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799
16 May 2023 : Clinical Research 701,879
Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387
Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387
01 Mar 2024 : Editorial 25,628
Editorial: First Regulatory Approvals for CRISPR-Cas9 Therapeutic Gene Editing for Sickle Cell Disease and ...DOI :10.12659/MSM.944204
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944204
28 Jan 2024 : Review article 20,173
A Review of IgA Vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein Purpura) Past, Present, and FutureDOI :10.12659/MSM.943912
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e943912