Blood pressure and sympathetic activity in normotensive aviators during short-haul fixed-wings flights.
BACKGROUND
In order to evaluate the impact of in-flight stress on BP and sympathetic activity during a short fixed-wing flight, we have studied 18 healthy and normotensive commercial captain aviators, aged 37.5 +/- 4.9 yr.


METHODS
The protocol consisted of a 120-min flight period, divided into segments of pre-flight, take off, mid-cruise, approach and landing, and a 120-min control period. In both flight and control periods, all subjects underwent BP monitoring, heart rate recording and urine collection for catecholamines.


RESULTS
Systolic and diastolic BP (SBP/DBP) were higher during the flight, as a whole, when compared with the control period (134 +/- 11 vs. 121 +/- 8 mmHg, p < 0.05 and 84 +/- 8 vs. 76 +/- 9 mmHg, p < 0.05, respectively). During the flight period, SBP increased in the pre-flight, take-off, approach and landing segments, whereas DBP increased in the take-off, mid-cruise, approach and landing segments. Heart rate did not change in any flight segment. Urinary catecholamines increased during the flight period in comparison to control period 0.20 (0.10 1.8) mg x mg-1 creatinine vs. 0.10 (0.10-1.0) mg x mg-1 creatinine; p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that inflight stress increases BP of the normotensive aviators by sympathetic activation during short-haul flights.
Melhado
V E
VE
Nephrology Section, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Tavares
A
A
Kohlmann
O
O
Zanella
M T
MT
Ribeiro
A B
AB
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D001359:Aviation; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*
D002395:Catecholamines; D003404:Creatinine