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Myocardial blood flow during passive heat exposure in healthy young adults
Author(s) -
Barry Hadiatou,
Chaseling Georgia,
D’OlivieraSousa Caroline,
Harel François,
PelletierGalarneau Matthieu,
Gag Daniel
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2021.35.s1.02442
Subject(s) - blood flow , medicine , mechanics , cardiology , environmental science , physics
Extreme heat events, such as heatwaves, are associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular mortality. However, the pathophysiology that links extreme heat and cardiovascular mortality remains unknown. Upon exposure to a hot environment, cardiac contractility and heart rate increase thereby presumably increasing myocardial metabolism. Although greater oxygen extraction contributes, an increase in myocardial metabolism is primarily met by greater myocardial blood flow. It is therefore conceivable that the required myocardial blood flow during heat exposure exceeds the capacity for myocardial blood flow to increase in vulnerable individuals. However, the extent to which myocardial blood flow increases during heat exposure is unknown. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that passive heat exposure increases myocardial blood flow. METHODS Five healthy adults (31 ± 3 years, 2 women/3 men) participated in 1 experimental visit during which myocardial blood flow was measured by positron emission computed/tomography. Measurements were performed at baseline and during passive heat stress (water‐perfused suit with water at 50°C) at an increase in core (rectal) temperature of 0.5°C, 1.0°C, and 1.5°C. Heart rate and rhythm (ECG) and blood pressure (automated auscultation) were also measured. RESULTS Relative to baseline, rate pressure product was greater at an increase in rectal temperature of 0.5°C (+4165 ± 623 bpm × mmHg, p=0.01), 1.0°C (+5015 ± 519 bpm × mm Hg, p<0.01) and 1.5°C (+7516 ± 261 bpm × mm Hg, p<0.01). The increase in rate pressure product was primarily due to an increase in heart rate (p<0.01), as systolic blood pressure was not affected by heat exposure (p=0.12). Relative to baseline values, myocardial blood flow increased at an increase in rectal temperature of 0.5°C (+0.45 ± 0.09 mL/min/g, p=0.03), 1.0°C (+0.61 ± 0.06 mL/min/g, p<0.01) and 1.5°C (+1.10 ± 0.22 mL/min/g, p=0.02). Overall, myocardial blood flow increased 2.7 ± 1.0‐fold relative to baseline at an increase in rectal temperature of 1.5°C. The change in myocardial blood flow during heat exposure correlated with the change in rate pressure product (r=0.78, p<0.01). CONCLUSION These results suggest that passive heat exposure increases myocardial blood flow in proportion with the increase in rate pressure product in young healthy adults.