Microgravity and Cardiovascular Health in Astronauts: A Narrative Review
ABSTRACT Background Space exploration has become a major interest for scientific and medical research. With increasing duration and frequency of manned space missions, it is crucial to understand the impact of microgravity on the cardiovascular health of astronauts. We focus on this relationship by...
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Wiley
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Health Science Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70316 |
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| author | John Azariah Umberto Terranova |
| author_facet | John Azariah Umberto Terranova |
| author_sort | John Azariah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Background Space exploration has become a major interest for scientific and medical research. With increasing duration and frequency of manned space missions, it is crucial to understand the impact of microgravity on the cardiovascular health of astronauts. We focus on this relationship by reviewing literature that explores how microgravity affects several hemodynamic parameters and cardiovascular biomarkers. Methods We conducted a search updated to November 2024 across several databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, ESA, NASA and DLR, using relevant MeSH terms and selection criteria. Results The 22 selected articles detail how microgravity impacts the cardiovascular system and its adaptations. We identify some clear patterns, such as loss of ventricular mass and increased QT intervals (corrected for heart rate) indicating increased risk of arrhythmias. Our analysis confirms that head‐down tilt is an accurate analog of microgravity. Conclusions While a direct link between microgravity and cardiovascular disease, such as coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction, remains elusive, the documented physiological changes pose a potential threat to the astronauts' health. We suggest that future research focus on long‐term effects, particularly on female subjects. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b79eef99d6a64f52b9aadd0c17aa30e1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2398-8835 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Science Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-b79eef99d6a64f52b9aadd0c17aa30e12025-01-29T03:42:40ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352025-01-0181n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.70316Microgravity and Cardiovascular Health in Astronauts: A Narrative ReviewJohn Azariah0Umberto Terranova1Faculty of Medicine and Health Science Crewe Campus, University of Buckingham Crewe UKFaculty of Medicine and Health Science Crewe Campus, University of Buckingham Crewe UKABSTRACT Background Space exploration has become a major interest for scientific and medical research. With increasing duration and frequency of manned space missions, it is crucial to understand the impact of microgravity on the cardiovascular health of astronauts. We focus on this relationship by reviewing literature that explores how microgravity affects several hemodynamic parameters and cardiovascular biomarkers. Methods We conducted a search updated to November 2024 across several databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, ESA, NASA and DLR, using relevant MeSH terms and selection criteria. Results The 22 selected articles detail how microgravity impacts the cardiovascular system and its adaptations. We identify some clear patterns, such as loss of ventricular mass and increased QT intervals (corrected for heart rate) indicating increased risk of arrhythmias. Our analysis confirms that head‐down tilt is an accurate analog of microgravity. Conclusions While a direct link between microgravity and cardiovascular disease, such as coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction, remains elusive, the documented physiological changes pose a potential threat to the astronauts' health. We suggest that future research focus on long‐term effects, particularly on female subjects.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70316astronautscardiovascular adaptationscardiovascular healthmicrogravityspaceflight |
| spellingShingle | John Azariah Umberto Terranova Microgravity and Cardiovascular Health in Astronauts: A Narrative Review Health Science Reports astronauts cardiovascular adaptations cardiovascular health microgravity spaceflight |
| title | Microgravity and Cardiovascular Health in Astronauts: A Narrative Review |
| title_full | Microgravity and Cardiovascular Health in Astronauts: A Narrative Review |
| title_fullStr | Microgravity and Cardiovascular Health in Astronauts: A Narrative Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microgravity and Cardiovascular Health in Astronauts: A Narrative Review |
| title_short | Microgravity and Cardiovascular Health in Astronauts: A Narrative Review |
| title_sort | microgravity and cardiovascular health in astronauts a narrative review |
| topic | astronauts cardiovascular adaptations cardiovascular health microgravity spaceflight |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70316 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT johnazariah microgravityandcardiovascularhealthinastronautsanarrativereview AT umbertoterranova microgravityandcardiovascularhealthinastronautsanarrativereview |