Blood pressure and sympathetic activity in normotensive aviators during short-haul fixed-wings flights

Abstract

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 cathecolamines. 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, SEP 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 cathecolamines increased during the flight period in comparison to control period 0.20 (0.20-1.8) mg.mg(-1) creatinine vs. 0.10 (0.10-1.0) mg.mg(-1) creatinine; p < 0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that inflight stress increases BP of the normotensive aviators by sympathetic activation during short-haul flights.