| Document ID (ISN) | 101775 |
| CIS number |
03-641 |
| ISSN - Serial title |
0095-6562 - Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine |
| Year |
2003 |
| Convention or series no. |
|
| Author(s) |
Webb J.T., Kannan N., Pilmanis A.A. |
| Title |
Gender not a factor for altitude decompression sickness risk |
| Bibliographic information |
Jan. 2003, Vol.74, No.1, p.2-10. Illus. 34 ref. |
| Abstract |
Some earlier studies suggest that women may be more susceptible to altitude decompression sickness (DCS) than men. In this study, 197 men and 94 women underwent 961 exposures to simulated altitude for up to 8h, using zero to 4h of preoxygenation. Throughout the exposures, subjects breathed 100% oxygen, rested or performed mild or strenuous exercise, and were monitored for precordial venous gas emboli (VGE) and DCS symptoms. No significant differences in DCS incidence were observed between men (49.5%) and women (43.3%). However, VGE occurred at significantly higher rates among men than women, 69.3% and 55.0% respectively. Women using hormonal contraception showed significantly greater susceptibility to DCS than other women during the latter two weeks of the menstrual cycle. Significantly higher DCS incidence was observed in the heaviest men, in women with the highest body fat, and in subjects with the highest body mass indices and lowest levels of fitness. |
| Descriptors (primary) |
decompression sickness; sex-linked differences; risk factors |
| Descriptors (secondary) |
hormones; air embolism; symptoms; body weight; hazard evaluation; menstrual cycle; women; physical fitness |
| Document type |
D - Periodical articles |
| Country / State or Province | USA |
| Subject(s) |
Occupational pathology
|
| Broad subject area(s) |
Occupational medicine, epidemiology
|
| Browse category(ies) |
Hyperbaric pressure
|
