A one-hour 15° head-down tilt microgravity simulation in healthy children significantly decreased heart rate and increased stroke volume and left ventricular ejection time.
Observational (n=26)
No
Does 1 hour of simulated microgravity using a 15° head-down tilt alter cardiovascular parameters in healthy children?
Healthy children display physiological cardiovascular adaptability to 1 hour of simulated microgravity comparable to adults, with no adverse psychological reactions, supporting their potential inclusion in future space tourism.
valor p: p=<0.05
This pioneering study investigated cardiovascular responses in children during simulated microgravity exposure using a 15° head-down tilt (HDT) for one hour. Twenty-six healthy participants aged 8–14 years (15 girls, 11 boys) underwent continuous non-invasive monitoring of nine cardiovascular parameters, including heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, and blood pressure. Results showed that children tolerated HDT well, with no signs of distress or adverse reactions. Heart rate decreased significantly during tilt, while stroke volume and left ventricular ejection time increased, suggesting adaptive cardiovascular adjustments similar to those observed in adults under microgravity conditions. Cardiac output and cardiac index exhibited transient rises in girls, followed by normalization, and no significant intersex differences were found in blood pressure responses. These findings indicate that children display physiological adaptability comparable to adults, providing novel insights into pediatric cardiovascular function in microgravity analogs and supporting considerations for future inclusion of young participants in space research and tourism.
Papacocea et al. (Wed,) conducted a observational in Healthy (n=26). Head-down tilt (HDT) microgravity simulation vs. Baseline (intra-subject control) was evaluated on Cardiovascular response (heart rate, stroke volume, left ventricular ejection time, cardiac output) (p=<0.05). A one-hour 15° head-down tilt microgravity simulation in healthy children significantly decreased heart rate and increased stroke volume and left ventricular ejection time.