End-tidal CO relates to seasickness susceptibility: A study in Antarctic voyages.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between end-tidal CO (EtCO) and seasickness (motion sickness at sea) during an Antarctic voyage.

METHODS

In this study, we measured EtCO and severity of seasickness using the subjective symptoms of motion sickness (SSMS). We sampled EtCO and SSMS every 3-4h for 3 days from the date of sail in 16 healthy subjects. This experiment was performed on an icebreaker (standard displacement: 12,650t).

RESULTS

Since 2 subjects dropped out because of severe motion sickness, available data were collected from 14 subjects. On analysis of all data of all subjects grouped together, there seemed to be a significant negative correlation between EtCO and SSMS (R=-0.27, P=0.0005). However, in individual subjects, this correlation was not obvious. During the voyage, EtCO level in the seasickness susceptible group was lower than that in the non-susceptible group (P=0.018). Both EtCO increasing in the non-susceptible group and decreasing in the susceptible group contribute to the difference in EtCO levels. We suggest that the cause of this increase in EtCO level in the non-susceptible group was unwitting slow and deep breathing to resist seasickness.

CONCLUSION

We revealed that for seasickness during an Antarctic voyage, EtCO level relates to susceptibility, but not occurrence or severity. Measurement of EtCO levels may be useful to identify seasickness-susceptible persons and to efficiently prevent seasickness.