Cardiovascular Responses to Heat Waves in the Elderly
- Conditions
- HyperthermiaAging
- Registration Number
- NCT04538144
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to assess the cardiovascular responses of the elderly to heat wave conditions
- Detailed Description
Heat waves are lethal and cause a disproportionate number of deaths in the elderly relative to any other age group. It is important to note that such deaths are primarily cardiovascular, not hyperthermia itself, in origin. Nevertheless, we know relatively little about the effects of aging on cardiovascular function during actual heat wave-like conditions. The central hypothesis of this work is that the elderly exhibit greater cardiovascular stress during heat wave conditions. Aim 1 will test the hypothesis that recognized impairments in thermoregulatory capacity in the elderly will culminate in heightened cardiovascular stress during prolonged exposure to heat wave conditions. Comprehensive cardiovascular and thermal responses in the elderly, relative to younger adults, will be evaluated during exposure to two prolonged heat wave conditions: hot and humid (replicating the 1995 Chicago heat wave) and very hot and dry (replicating the 2018 Los Angeles heat wave). The expected outcome from this body of work will re-shape our understanding of the consequences of aging on cardiovascular function during heat waves
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 59
- Healthy male and female individuals
- 18-35 years or 65+ years of age
- Free of any underlying moderate to serious medical conditions
- Known heart disease; other chronic medical conditions requiring regular medical therapy including cancer, diabetes, neurological diseases, uncontrolled hypertension, and uncontrolled hypercholesterolemia.
- Taking of any medications (such as beta blockers and non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers) that have known influences on either cardiac function or sweating responses.
- Abnormalities detected on routine screening.
- Individuals who participate in a structured aerobic exercise training program at moderate to high intensities.
- Current smokers, as well as individuals who regularly smoked within the past 3 years.
- Body mass index of greater than 30 kg/m^2
- Pregnant individuals
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- CROSSOVER
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in Core Body Temperature Prior to and after the 3-hour simulated heat wave exposure. Core body temperature will be measured via a telemetric pill or rectal temperature probe.
Change in Peak Mitral Annular Systolic Velocity (S') Prior to, during, and after each simulated heat wave exposure; approximately 20 min each Change in peak mitral annular systolic velocity was measured by tissue doppler imaging.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Ending Skin Temperature At the end of the 3-hour simulated heat wave exposure. Skin temperature will be measured from small temperature sensitive electrodes attached to the participant's skin.
Ending Heart Rate At the end of the 3-hour simulated heat wave exposure. Heart rate will be measured via ECG electrodes attached to the participant
Ending Mean Arterial Pressure At the end of the 3-hour simulated heat wave exposure. Arterial blood pressure will be measured using a standard arm blood pressure cuff.
Change in Cardiac Output Prior to and after the 3-hour simulated heat wave exposure. Cardiac output (how much blood is ejected from the heart per minute) was measured using echocardiography.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine
🇺🇸Dallas, Texas, United States
Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine🇺🇸Dallas, Texas, United States