Effects of severe hyperbaric pressure on autonomic nerve functions

Abstract

Autonomic nerve functions under severe hyperbaric pressure were evaluated by measuring heart rate variability (HRV) and catecholamine excretion rate in 16 normal volunteers in submarine experimental facilities simulating conditions 330 m below sea level. HRV and urinary catecholamine levels were evaluated to assess sympathetic and parasympathetic tone. High-frequency HRV increased from 5.6 ± 1.3 to 6.3 ± 1.4 ms2 (p < 0.05), and SD of the average normal R to R intervals for 5-minute index (SDNNI) (time domain HRV parameter) increased from 77.2 ± 32.7 to 93 ± 33.8 ms (p < 0.05) after 3 days. Adrenaline/creatinine increased by 18% from a basal value of 4.04 ± 0.44 ng/dL/h. Also, there was significant negative correlation between high-frequency and urinary cathecholamine levels. Evaluation of autonomic nerve functions under hyperbaric conditions by measuring HRV was shown to be a useful method. Thus, the present results indicate that the autonomic nerve functions of people who work under deep-sea conditions can be evaluated adequately by measuring HRV.