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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Lumped-Parameter and Finite Element Modeling of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Published on: February 13, 2021
Mechanism of spaceflight-induced changes in left ventricular mass
Richard L Summers1, David S Martin, Janice V Meck
1Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216, USA. rsummers@pol.net
Abstract:
Decrements in left ventricular (LV) mass observed after microgravity exposure have been previously postulated to be a central component of spaceflight-induced cardiovascular deconditioning. In this study, echocardiographic measurements of LV mass in astronauts demonstrated a comparative 9.1% reduction in postflight LV mass that returned to preflight values by the third day of recovery. A ground-based study in normal subjects determined that these pre- to postflight LV mass changes could be reproduced by simple dehydration. Reductions in LV mass observed immediately after spaceflight may be secondary to simple physiologic fluid exchanges.
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