Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of Thorax. https://doi.org/10.1136/thorax-2023-220998 Dr. Rabea Antonia Trammer et al.
Points
- The study investigated the effects of alcohol intake and hypobaric hypoxia on sleep quality, SpO2 levels, and heart rate in healthy individuals during simulated long-haul flight conditions.
- Participants underwent sleep sessions in a sleep laboratory and an altitude chamber simulating hypobaric conditions, with and without alcohol consumption, monitored through polysomnography, SpO2 measurements, and heart rate recordings.
- The combination of alcohol and hypobaric hypoxia decreased SpO2 levels and increased heart rate during sleep compared to conditions without alcohol or hypoxia.
- Exposure to both alcohol and hypobaric conditions resulted in reduced deep sleep (N3) duration and prolonged periods of hypoxemia (SpO2 <90%).
- The study highlights the detrimental effects of alcohol and inflight hypobaric hypoxia on sleep quality, cardiovascular function, and oxygen saturation, emphasizing the potential health risks during long-haul flights.
Summary
Long-haul flights often involve passengers consuming alcohol, and the combination of inflight sleep and hypobaric hypoxia can significantly impact physiological parameters such as blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate. This study aimed to investigate the collective effects of alcohol intake and hypobaric hypoxia on sleep quality, SpO2 levels, and heart rate in healthy individuals. By examining these factors under controlled conditions in a sleep laboratory and an altitude chamber, the researchers sought to elucidate the interplay between alcohol, hypoxia, and sleep disturbances during simulated flight scenarios.
Two groups of participants underwent a series of sleep sessions with limited sleep opportunities in either a sleep laboratory or an altitude chamber simulating hypobaric conditions. Alcohol consumption was administered before one of the nights, with blood alcohol concentration monitored. Polysomnography, SpO2 measurements, and heart rate recordings were conducted to assess the impact of alcohol and hypobaric hypoxia on sleep architecture and cardiovascular parameters. Recovery nights were included to evaluate the lingering effects of the combined exposure on sleep and physiological variables.
The study findings revealed that the combined influence of alcohol consumption and hypobaric hypoxia led to a decrease in SpO2 levels and an increase in heart rate during sleep compared to conditions without alcohol or hypoxia. Participants exposed to both alcohol and hypobaric conditions experienced reduced deep sleep (N3) duration and prolonged periods of hypoxemia (SpO2 <90%). These results underscore the detrimental effects of alcohol and inflight hypobaric hypoxia on sleep quality, cardiovascular function, and oxygen saturation levels, highlighting the potential risks associated with such exposures during long-haul flights.
Link to the article: https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2024/05/03/thorax-2023-220998
References Trammer, R. A., Rooney, D., Benderoth, S., Wittkowski, M., Wenzel, J., & Elmenhorst, E.-M. (2024). Effects of moderate alcohol consumption and hypobaric hypoxia: Implications for passengers’ sleep, oxygen saturation and heart rate on long-haul flights. Thorax. https://doi.org/10.1136/thorax-2023-220998
