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Related Experiment Videos

Gender not a factor for altitude decompression sickness risk.

James T Webb1, Nandini Kannan, Andrew A Pilmanis

  • 1Air Force Research Laboratory (Wyle Laboratories, Inc.) San Antonio, TX 78232, USA. james.webb@brooks.af.mil

Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|January 28, 2003
PubMed
Summary

This study found no significant difference in altitude decompression sickness (DCS) between men and women. However, factors like body mass index and fitness level influenced DCS susceptibility in both sexes.

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Area of Science:

  • Aerospace Medicine
  • Human Physiology
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Previous studies suggested higher altitude decompression sickness (DCS) incidence in women.
  • This hypothesis was based on early, retrospective reports from altitude chamber training.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively investigate and compare the incidence of altitude DCS between men and women.
  • To identify potential influencing factors on DCS susceptibility.

Main Methods:

  • 291 subjects (197 men, 94 women) underwent 961 simulated altitude exposures.
  • Monitoring included precordial venous gas emboli (VGE) and DCS symptoms.
  • Varied exposure durations, preoxygenation, and exercise levels were employed.

Main Results:

Keywords:
NASA Discipline Environmental HealthNon-NASA Center

Related Experiment Videos

  • No significant difference in DCS incidence between men (49.5%) and women (45.3%).
  • Men had significantly higher rates of venous gas emboli (VGE) than women.
  • Hormonal contraception, higher BMI, and lower fitness correlated with increased DCS susceptibility.

Conclusions:

  • Altitude DCS incidence did not differ significantly between sexes under tested conditions.
  • Men exhibited higher VGE rates, suggesting different physiological responses.
  • Higher BMI and lower physical fitness were identified as risk factors for DCS in both sexes.