Investigating heat tolerance in females

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Heat illness; Injuries and Accidents - Other injuries and accidents

• Registration Number: ACTRN12619001526167
• Lead Sponsor: James Cook University

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2019-11-05
• Last Update Posted: 22 July 2024

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 47

Inclusion Criteria

Cases will include female Australian Defence Force members referred to the primary investigator for heat tolerance testing following a known or suspected case of heat stroke or who have previously been referred by their physician for heat tolerance testing. Controls will be female volunteers (civilians) from the general community who have never had a history of heat illness.

Exclusion Criteria

Potential participants who have any of the following criteria will be excluded from the study:
- Male
- Pregnant or lactating women in the Defence Force or in the general community
- Medical conditions that predisposes and increases the risk of heat stroke
- History of hypertension, malignant hyperthermia, and diabetes
- Currently being treated for any mental disorder which affects their ability to comprehend the study details and therefore their ability to provide consent
- Currently being treated for anaemia
- Currently using glucose lowering agents, prednisone, or beta blockers

Study & Design

• Study Type: Observational
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Heat tolerance status (either heat tolerant or heat intolerant) assessed using the standard heat tolerance test.[ Immediately after completing the standard heat tolerance test.]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Aeobic fitness (is a composite outcome that includes VO2 max, heart rate and subjective rating)<br><br>VO2 max test will be conducted using a metabolic cart and either a cycle ergometer (ramp protocol) or treadmill (step protocol commencing at light jogging speed). A mouthpiece for the metabolic cart will be placed in the subject’s mouth and held in place by adjusting the headpiece. A nose clip will be placed on the nose to ensure mouth breathing only. This ensures that all oxygen consumed, and carbon dioxide produced will be measured by the metabolic cart. Heart rate and subjective ratings of effort will be obtained during the test along with the VO2max (maximum oxygen consumed). Heart rate and subjective ratings are used to verify that VO2max is reached during the test. [ The aerobic fitness will be assessed once within 4 weeks of the heat tolerance test. ]