Thermal perception and lung function: a panel study in young adults with exercise under high outdoor temperature

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Occupational Medicine
• Pulmonary Physiology

Background:

• High ambient temperatures are linked to reduced lung function.
• The role of subjective thermal perception in this association remains unclear.
• Understanding thermal perception's impact is crucial for protecting respiratory health in hot environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between thermal perception and lung function.
• To evaluate the effects of thermal sensation, comfort, and preference on respiratory capacity.
• To explore variations in these effects based on participant origin, gender, and training duration.

Main Methods:

• Repeated daily measurements of thermal perception and lung function in 126 participants undergoing outdoor military training.
• Utilized a linear mixed-effects model for statistical analysis.
• Conducted stratified analyses by student origin, gender, and training week.

Main Results:

• Increased thermal sensation towards 'hot' correlated with decreased forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1).
• Higher thermal discomfort was associated with a significant increase in FEV1 percentage.
• Preference for cooler conditions led to reductions in FVC and FEV1; effects were more pronounced in non-local students and during the initial training week.

Conclusions:

• Subjective thermal perception is significantly associated with lung function changes, independent of objective temperature alone.
• Both thermal sensation and comfort influence respiratory capacity in healthy adults exposed to heat.
• Personalized environmental management strategies may be necessary, considering individual thermal perception and acclimatization status.