Sex differences in cardiorespiratory control under hypoxia: the roles of oxygen desaturation and hypoxic exposure time
IntroductionMales and females differ anatomically and functionally in cardiorespiratory regulation, with males tending to experience greater oxygen desaturation under hypoxia. Therefore, sex might moderate cardiorespiratory responses to acute hypoxia exposure. Accordingly, we hypothesized that sex d...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1473910/full |
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| author | André Luiz Musmanno Branco Oliveira Gabriel Dias Rodrigues Gabriel Dias Rodrigues Bruno Moreira Silva Philippe de Azeredo Rohan Pedro Paulo da Silva Soares |
| author_facet | André Luiz Musmanno Branco Oliveira Gabriel Dias Rodrigues Gabriel Dias Rodrigues Bruno Moreira Silva Philippe de Azeredo Rohan Pedro Paulo da Silva Soares |
| author_sort | André Luiz Musmanno Branco Oliveira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionMales and females differ anatomically and functionally in cardiorespiratory regulation, with males tending to experience greater oxygen desaturation under hypoxia. Therefore, sex might moderate cardiorespiratory responses to acute hypoxia exposure. Accordingly, we hypothesized that sex differences in cardiovascular and ventilatory responses would be more pronounced with equal hypoxia duration (iso-time) but less pronounced at similar oxygen desaturation levels (iso-saturation).MethodsTwenty-two (12 females) healthy individuals were exposed to normoxia (10 min at FiO2 = 0.21) and hypoxia (10 min at FiO2 = 0.115), respectively. Pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2), R-R intervals, cardiac output, blood pressure (BP), and ventilatory data were continuously recorded during spontaneous breathing. Spectral analysis of R-R intervals and systolic BP revealed cardiovascular autonomic modulation in the low- (LF; 0.04–0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (HF; 0.15–0.40 Hz) bands and alpha-index (α–LF) assessed spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). Sex differences were compared in iso-saturation and iso-time analyses.ResultsAt 10 min of hypoxia (iso-time), males desaturated more than females (interaction: p = 0.004), and hypoxia-induced tachycardia in both groups (p < 0.001), but no “sex-time” interaction was found for cardiovascular data. In contrast, only males responded with ventilatory responses during iso-time hypoxia, decreasing breathing frequency (interaction: p = 0.022) and increasing tidal volume (Vt) (interaction: p = 0.036). Otherwise, during iso-saturation (SpO2-matched ∼91%), heart rate and LF of R-R intervals increased more in females than in males (interaction: p = 0.049). However, only males increased Vt (interaction; p = 0.037).ConclusionOur data indicate that females counterbalance hypoxia mainly by systemic circulatory adjustments, while males use both, circulatory and ventilatory adjustments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7f577a0ead254f399922f497ff4f75a4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2297-055X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-7f577a0ead254f399922f497ff4f75a42025-01-31T06:40:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine2297-055X2025-01-011210.3389/fcvm.2025.14739101473910Sex differences in cardiorespiratory control under hypoxia: the roles of oxygen desaturation and hypoxic exposure timeAndré Luiz Musmanno Branco Oliveira0Gabriel Dias Rodrigues1Gabriel Dias Rodrigues2Bruno Moreira Silva3Philippe de Azeredo Rohan4Pedro Paulo da Silva Soares5Laboratory of Experimental and Applied Exercise Physiology, Biomedical Institute, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Niterói, BrazilLaboratory of Experimental and Applied Exercise Physiology, Biomedical Institute, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Niterói, BrazilDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Physiology, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, BrazilLaboratory of Experimental and Applied Exercise Physiology, Biomedical Institute, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Niterói, BrazilLaboratory of Experimental and Applied Exercise Physiology, Biomedical Institute, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Niterói, BrazilIntroductionMales and females differ anatomically and functionally in cardiorespiratory regulation, with males tending to experience greater oxygen desaturation under hypoxia. Therefore, sex might moderate cardiorespiratory responses to acute hypoxia exposure. Accordingly, we hypothesized that sex differences in cardiovascular and ventilatory responses would be more pronounced with equal hypoxia duration (iso-time) but less pronounced at similar oxygen desaturation levels (iso-saturation).MethodsTwenty-two (12 females) healthy individuals were exposed to normoxia (10 min at FiO2 = 0.21) and hypoxia (10 min at FiO2 = 0.115), respectively. Pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2), R-R intervals, cardiac output, blood pressure (BP), and ventilatory data were continuously recorded during spontaneous breathing. Spectral analysis of R-R intervals and systolic BP revealed cardiovascular autonomic modulation in the low- (LF; 0.04–0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (HF; 0.15–0.40 Hz) bands and alpha-index (α–LF) assessed spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). Sex differences were compared in iso-saturation and iso-time analyses.ResultsAt 10 min of hypoxia (iso-time), males desaturated more than females (interaction: p = 0.004), and hypoxia-induced tachycardia in both groups (p < 0.001), but no “sex-time” interaction was found for cardiovascular data. In contrast, only males responded with ventilatory responses during iso-time hypoxia, decreasing breathing frequency (interaction: p = 0.022) and increasing tidal volume (Vt) (interaction: p = 0.036). Otherwise, during iso-saturation (SpO2-matched ∼91%), heart rate and LF of R-R intervals increased more in females than in males (interaction: p = 0.049). However, only males increased Vt (interaction; p = 0.037).ConclusionOur data indicate that females counterbalance hypoxia mainly by systemic circulatory adjustments, while males use both, circulatory and ventilatory adjustments.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1473910/fullautonomic nervous systemheart rate variabilityhypoxemiabreathingsex differences |
| spellingShingle | André Luiz Musmanno Branco Oliveira Gabriel Dias Rodrigues Gabriel Dias Rodrigues Bruno Moreira Silva Philippe de Azeredo Rohan Pedro Paulo da Silva Soares Sex differences in cardiorespiratory control under hypoxia: the roles of oxygen desaturation and hypoxic exposure time Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine autonomic nervous system heart rate variability hypoxemia breathing sex differences |
| title | Sex differences in cardiorespiratory control under hypoxia: the roles of oxygen desaturation and hypoxic exposure time |
| title_full | Sex differences in cardiorespiratory control under hypoxia: the roles of oxygen desaturation and hypoxic exposure time |
| title_fullStr | Sex differences in cardiorespiratory control under hypoxia: the roles of oxygen desaturation and hypoxic exposure time |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sex differences in cardiorespiratory control under hypoxia: the roles of oxygen desaturation and hypoxic exposure time |
| title_short | Sex differences in cardiorespiratory control under hypoxia: the roles of oxygen desaturation and hypoxic exposure time |
| title_sort | sex differences in cardiorespiratory control under hypoxia the roles of oxygen desaturation and hypoxic exposure time |
| topic | autonomic nervous system heart rate variability hypoxemia breathing sex differences |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1473910/full |
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