Effects of hypobaric-hypoxia on the salivary cortisol levels of aircraft pilots

INTRODUCTION: There has been limited characterization of the endocrine stress reactivity of aircraft pilots under the adverse environmental condition of hypobaric-hypoxia. This seems especially true with respect to using the non-invasive technique of salivary hormonal analysis. Thus, the purpose of this study was to characterize the salivary cortisol response to such an environmental stress. METHODS: Some 53 pilots were exposed to 30 min of hypobaric-hypoxia (final pressure, 540 hPa). The salivary cortisol levels were measured at baseline (0 min), at 15 and 30 min into exposure (+15 and +30 min) and 30 min after the exposure ended (+60 min). The cortisol response of each pilot was classified according to the difference between the +30 min and 0 min values. Responder categories were: increase (I), decrease (D) or no change (N). RESULTS: Subjects were not evenly distributed among the three response categories (p 0 min) responders, as well as between the D, N, and I responders at the +15 to +60 min sampling times. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that no single consistent change in salivary cortisol level occurred among the different subjects in response to the level and duration of hypobaric-hypoxia studied. Language: en