Cardiovascular deconditioning during long-term spaceflight through multiscale modeling

This paper presents a validated 1D-0D multiscale model to study cardiovascular deconditioning during long-term spaceflight. The model simulates hemodynamic changes, including blood volume shifts, cardiac function alterations, and vascular wave propagation. Results show reduced cardiac work, oxygen consumption, and contractility, indicating cardiovascular deconditioning comparable to a sedentary lifestyle. Significant waveform alterations at the capillary-venous level are observed, potentially impacting perfusion and nutrient supply. The findings highlight the need for effective countermeasures for long spaceflights to ensure astronaut safety and physical capacity upon gravity restoration.

Caterina Gallo, Luca Ridolfi, Stefania Scarsoglio