ORIGINAL PAPER
Cardiovascular testing of seasickness in healthy volunteers on life rafts
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1
Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
(Department of Family Medicine)
2
Gdynia Maritime University, Gdynia, Poland
(Scientific Circle “Seaways,” Faculty of Navigation)
3
Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
(Department of Otolaryngology)
4
Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland
(Scientific Circle “Materials in Medicine,” Faculty of Mechanical Engineering)
Online publication date: 2020-05-29
Corresponding author
Andrzej Molisz
Medical University of Gdańsk, Department of Family Medicine, Dębinki 2, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2020;33(4):467-77
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: The role of the cardiovascular system in the development of seasickness remains uncertain. Material and Methods: Overall, 18 healthy
students (10 males and 8 females) aged 18–24 years volunteered in the project, spending 2–7 h on life rafts. The cardiovascular system was examined
with impedance cardiography. Susceptibility and symptoms of seasickness were evaluated by the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire Shortform
(MSSQ-Short) and the Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire (MSAQ). The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), ranging 0–10, was used to assess
nausea, dizziness and mood. The parameters were assessed at 2 time points. Results: Differences in the heart rate (HR), the thoracic fluid content
index (TFCI), the stroke index (SI) and the Heather index (HI) before launching the life rafts and after leaving them were observed (78.6, 20.8, 55.6
and 15.9 vs. 70.1, 19.7, 60.5 and 17.9, with p-values of 0.002, <0.001, 0.003 and 0.004, respectively). Females reacted with changes in SI and HR more
vividly, whereas males regulated more HI and TFCI. In addition, HR correlated significantly with the central and peripheral symptoms in MSAQ,
stroke volume (SV) with peripheral and sopite-related ones, SI with overall ones, and pulse pressure with overall, gastrointestinal and central ones
(Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient [ρ] was –0.478, –0.711, 0.476, 0.472, 0.525, –0.476, –0.579 and –0.584, respectively). As regards MSSQ-Short,
it correlated negatively with sopite-related symptoms in MSAQ (ρ= –0.486). Mood in VAS correlated significantly with gastrointestinal symptoms,
SI and the cardiac index (CI) (ρ = –0.752, –0.492 and –0.489, respectively). Conclusions: It was found that HR correlated negatively, and SV/SI correlated
positively, with the severity of seasickness symptoms measured with MSAQ. Gender is probably an independent factor influencing reactions
to motion. Women react with SI increase whereas men react with increased heart contractility (HI rise). Negative mood in seasickness evaluated
with VAS seems to be mostly determined by gastrointestinal symptoms assessed with MSAQ and diminished cardiovascular indices (both CI and SI). Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2020;33(4):467–77