People With Onstructive Sleep Apnea At Risk For Cardia Stress On Airline Flights

PEOPLE WITH ONSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA AT RISK FOR CARDIAC STRESS ON AIRLINE FLIGHTS

Passengers with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on airline flights are at increased risk for adverse events from cardiac stress than are healthy people. Researchers presented data on this phenomenon at the American Thoracic Society’s conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Sunday, May 18, 2008.

The research team compared oxygen levels and ventilation on healthy passengers and on those with OSA. The tests were carried out at simulated atmospheric pressures equal to between 6000 ft. and 8,000 ft, typical levels for airliners flying at 30,000 ft., according to the scientists. Participants were not given supplemental oxygen.

The research team found that the participants with OSA were under far more cardiovascular and respiratory stress, than did participants who did not suffer from OSA.

The researchers said they tested for differences in OSA and non-OSA participants because increased obesity in populations around the world has made the condition more common among airline travelers than used to be the case.

Source: American Thoracic Society