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Microgravity reduces sleep-disordered breathing in humansTo understand the factors that alter sleep quality in space, we studied the effect of spaceflight on sleep-disordered breathing. We analyzed 77 8-h, full polysomnographic recordings (PSGs) from five healthy subjects before spaceflight, on four occasions per subject during either a 16- or 9-d space shuttle mission and shortly after return to earth. Microgravity was associated with a 55% reduction in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), which decreased from a preflight value of 8.3 +/- 1.6 to 3.4 +/- 0.8 events/h inflight. This reduction in AHI was accompanied by a virtual elimination of snoring, which fell from 16.5 +/- 3.0% of total sleep time preflight to 0.7 +/- 0.5% inflight. Electroencephalogram (EEG) arousals also decreased in microgravity (by 19%), and this decrease was almost entirely a consequence of the reduction in respiratory-related arousals, which fell from 5.5 +/- 1.2 arousals/h preflight to 1.8 +/- 0.6 inflight. Postflight there was a return to near or slightly above preflight levels in these variables. We conclude that sleep quality during spaceflight is not degraded by sleep-disordered breathing. This is the first direct demonstration that gravity plays a dominant role in the generation of apneas, hypopneas, and snoring in healthy subjects.
Document ID
20040112332
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Elliott, A. R.
(University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0931, United States)
Shea, S. A.
Dijk, D. J.
Wyatt, J. K.
Riel, E.
Neri, D. F.
Czeisler, C. A.
West, J. B.
Prisk, G. K.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
Volume: 164
Issue: 3
ISSN: 1073-449X
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: U01-HL53208-01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
short duration
NASA Experiment Number 9301198
Non-NASA Center
STS-95 Shuttle Project
STS-90 Shuttle Project
manned
NASA Discipline Regulatory Physiology
Flight Experiment

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