The results of medical and psychophysiological examination performed during an arctic world oceanic international flight

Abstract

Background: The development of the Arctic region is connected with extreme and strenuous work conditions and transmeridian shifts. The resulting stress changes the functional state of involved professionals irrespective of their age. Successful performance of job tasks depends on individual adaptation, which is an urgent issue to be studied with modern research methods.
 Aims: The study was a complex research project on adaptation and changes of cardiovascular and psychophysiological functioning in response to long-term stress associated with rapid climate changes and transmeridian shifts experienced by the participants of the Arctic World Oceanic International Flight Sever Vash.
 Materials and methods: The participants of Sever Vash expedition, which took place in July and August 2018, were examined. According to the design of the study, they underwent a complex laboratory and instrumental assessment before the start and immediately on the finish. Blood parameters, level of DNA damage in blood cells, cardiovascular parameters (heart rate, brachial and aortic blood pressure (BP), subendocardial blood flow etc.), allostatic load index (ALI), and data of psychophysiological tests with work capacity assessment were analyzed.
 Results: All participants (7 males, 3969 y.o.) completed the planned route. The actual duration of the flight was 43 days. Comparative pairwise analysis on the finish revealed an increase of total blood protein (p0.000), creatinine (p0.000), bilirubine (p=0.038) and AcAT (p=0.031), and glucose (p0.000) levels, and shifts in peripheral blood parameters, which are typical for the process of adaptation to the Polar conditions and transmeridian shifts. An increase of DNA damage in white blood cells was found. Average values of hemodynamic parameters were in a normal range; heart rate increased (p0.000); mean brachial BP (p=0.003) and systolic aortic BP (p=0.001) decreased. Average values of pulse BP and subendocardial blood flow did not change (p0.05). ALI increased in four pilots; in others, no ALI dynamic was observed. Psychophysiological potential decreased after the flight. The number of errors and omissions of target signal (р0.000) increased, attention span and emotional stability deteriorated. Along with this, the mood parameter increased to a maximum level, and risk tolerance level decreased (р0.001).
 Conclusions: Working in Arctic conditions is connected with stress factors and leads to multiple and deep changes required for urgent adaptation. Allostatic load index, which is an integral parameter of strained functioning in extreme conditions, can be a marker of individual adaptation. The achieved functional stability of body systems, particularly the cardiovascular system, ensures an acceptable level of work capacity in the considered conditions.