Cardiovascular Responses to Heat Waves in the Elderly

NCT ID: NCT04538144

Last Updated: 2025-10-23

Study Results

Results available

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

59 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-01-19

Study Completion Date

2023-02-20

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to assess the cardiovascular responses of the elderly to heat wave conditions

Detailed Description

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Heat waves are lethal and cause a disproportionate number of deaths in the elderly relative to any other age group. It is important to note that such deaths are primarily cardiovascular, not hyperthermia itself, in origin. Nevertheless, we know relatively little about the effects of aging on cardiovascular function during actual heat wave-like conditions. The central hypothesis of this work is that the elderly exhibit greater cardiovascular stress during heat wave conditions. Aim 1 will test the hypothesis that recognized impairments in thermoregulatory capacity in the elderly will culminate in heightened cardiovascular stress during prolonged exposure to heat wave conditions. Comprehensive cardiovascular and thermal responses in the elderly, relative to younger adults, will be evaluated during exposure to two prolonged heat wave conditions: hot and humid (replicating the 1995 Chicago heat wave) and very hot and dry (replicating the 2018 Los Angeles heat wave). The expected outcome from this body of work will re-shape our understanding of the consequences of aging on cardiovascular function during heat waves

Conditions

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Aging Hyperthermia

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Younger participants: Hot/Dry then Hot/Humid

Individuals aged 18-39 years who completed the hot/dry trial first and the hot/humid trial second.

Group Type OTHER

Hot and Humid Trial

Intervention Type OTHER

Individuals will be exposed to a simulated heat wave (hot and humid) condition.

Hot and Dry Trial

Intervention Type OTHER

Individuals will be exposed to a simulated heat wave (hot and dry) condition.

Older participants: Hot/Dry then Hot/Humid

Individuals aged 65 years or older who completed the hot/dry trial first and the hot/humid trial second.

Group Type OTHER

Hot and Humid Trial

Intervention Type OTHER

Individuals will be exposed to a simulated heat wave (hot and humid) condition.

Hot and Dry Trial

Intervention Type OTHER

Individuals will be exposed to a simulated heat wave (hot and dry) condition.

Younger participants: Hot/Humid then Hot/Dry

Individuals aged 18-39 years who completed the hot/humid trial first and the hot/dry trial second.

Group Type OTHER

Hot and Humid Trial

Intervention Type OTHER

Individuals will be exposed to a simulated heat wave (hot and humid) condition.

Hot and Dry Trial

Intervention Type OTHER

Individuals will be exposed to a simulated heat wave (hot and dry) condition.

Older participants: Hot/Humid then Hot/Dry

Individuals aged 65 years or older who completed the hot/humid trial first and the hot/dry trial second.

Group Type OTHER

Hot and Humid Trial

Intervention Type OTHER

Individuals will be exposed to a simulated heat wave (hot and humid) condition.

Hot and Dry Trial

Intervention Type OTHER

Individuals will be exposed to a simulated heat wave (hot and dry) condition.

Interventions

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Hot and Humid Trial

Individuals will be exposed to a simulated heat wave (hot and humid) condition.

Intervention Type OTHER

Hot and Dry Trial

Individuals will be exposed to a simulated heat wave (hot and dry) condition.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Healthy male and female individuals
* 18-35 years or 65+ years of age
* Free of any underlying moderate to serious medical conditions

Exclusion Criteria

* Known heart disease; other chronic medical conditions requiring regular medical therapy including cancer, diabetes, neurological diseases, uncontrolled hypertension, and uncontrolled hypercholesterolemia.
* Taking of any medications (such as beta blockers and non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers) that have known influences on either cardiac function or sweating responses.
* Abnormalities detected on routine screening.
* Individuals who participate in a structured aerobic exercise training program at moderate to high intensities.
* Current smokers, as well as individuals who regularly smoked within the past 3 years.
* Body mass index of greater than 30 kg/m\^2
* Pregnant individuals
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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American Heart Association

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Craig Crandall

Professor of Medicine

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine

Dallas, Texas, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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1R01AG069005-01

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

STU_2019_1759

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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