Effects of prolonged bed rest on cardiovascular oxygen transport during submaximal exercise in humans

The hypothesis was tested that prolonged bed rest impairs O₂ transport during exercise, which implies a lowering of cardiac output Q˙ _c and O₂ delivery (_aO₂). The following parameters were determined in five males at rest and at the steady-state of the 100-W exercise before (B) and after (A) 42-day bed rest with head-down tilt at −6°: O₂ consumption (V˙O₂), by a standard open-circuit method; Q˙ _c, by the pressure pulse contour method, heart rate ( f _c), stroke volume (Q _h), arterial O₂ saturation, blood haemoglobin concentration ([Hb]), arterial O₂ concentration (C _aO₂), and Q˙ _aO₂. The V˙O₂ was the same in A and in B, as was the resting f _c. The f _c at 100 W was higher in A than in B (+17.5%). The Q _h was markedly reduced (−27.7% and −22.2% at rest and 100 W, respectively). The Q˙ _c was lower in A than in B [−27.6% and −7.8% (NS) at rest and 100 W, respectively]. The C _aO₂ was lower in A than in B because of the reduction in [Hb]. Thus also Q˙ _aO₂ was lower in A than in B (−32.0% and −11.9% at rest and at 100 W, respectively). The present results would suggest a down-regulation of the O₂ transport system after bed rest. Accepted: 22 April 1998