Saliva cortisol level as a strain parameter for crews aboard merchant ships

Effects of an Offshore Sailing Competition on Anthropometry, Muscular Performance, Subjective Wellness, and Salivary Cortisol in Professional Sailors

INTRODUCTION

Evidence regarding the impact of offshore sailing on fatigue and readiness variables is conspicuous by its absence. This study investigated the acute effects of an offshore sailing regatta on anthropometry, muscular performance, subjective recovery, and salivary biomarker cortisol.

METHODS

Ten professional offshore sailors from a mixed-sex crew partook in the study (N = 10; mean [SD] age = 32.2 [3.96] y; stature = 179.1 [7.30] cm; body mass = 84.2 [12.1] kg). The race involved 3 offshore legs over a 3-week period. Baseline measures of anthropometry, lower- and upper-body muscular function, perceptions of subjective wellness, and salivary cortisol were assessed 3 hours prior to competition (ie, before the first leg). These measures were repeated within 30 minutes after the cessation of each leg. During each leg, boat movements were recorded via global positioning system units.

RESULTS

There were significant reductions in lower (effect size [ES] = 0.49) and upper muscular (ES = 0.21) functions, as well as in subjective wellness (ES = 1.65). Salivary cortisol levels increased (ES = 0.84).

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that, during an intensified period of sailing competition, fatigue will progressively increase. This may impede sailing performance by reducing physical and cognitive efficiency. Furthermore, countermovement jump, handgrip strength, perception of subjective wellness, and cortisol concentration appear to be sensitive measures for monitoring fatigue and readiness in professional sailors.

Mental health problems and their related factors among seafarers: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Seafarers are often reported to be engaged in a dangerous physical and psychosocial work environment. However, mental health status among seafarers has not been focused on compared with physical health issues. Systematic, comprehensive reviews of mental health problems and their relevant factors are lacking. This review aimed to clarify beneficial approaches to the mental health problems faced among seafarers using a scoping review to systematically map the evidence regarding mental health issues and their related factors.

METHODS

Studies were searched on MEDLINE/PubMed, Science Direct, Academic search complete using EBSCOhost databases, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Web of science on 20, August 2020. This scoping review was conducted based on the framework of Arksey and O'Malley and Preferred Reporting items for Scoping Reviews flow diagram. The inclusion criteria were studies which determined the relationship between factors relevant to working conditions or working environment, and mental health in seafarers, and etc. Data were narratively summarized and reported.

RESULTS

Twenty-four were included in this review while two major findings were clarified. Firstly, the prevalence of stress, depressive symptoms, and burnout have been mentioned for decades. Secondly, factors related to mental health and psychological issues can be categorized as individual and work environmental factors. The individual factors include experience, age, health status (high BMI, poor sleep, and diabetics), and resilience. The work environmental factors consist of two parts. Job demands comprise pressure from contractors/customers/time, working hours, ship department, job title, voyage episodes, period of seafaring, noise, and vibration. The job resources included instrumental support, team cohesion, shipboard caring and effort-reward imbalance.

CONCLUSIONS

A beneficial approach to mental health problems faced among seafarers is necessary to understand comprehensively at individual and organization levels. Promoting health behaviors, training resilience, and managing obesity and chronic diseases comprise individual level strategies. Providing seafarers with adequate instrumental support, and practical support to communicate with customers, managing their distinct work-rest hours and adequate effort-reward balance comprise organization level methods.

Oxidative stress and motion sickness in one crew during competitive offshore sailing

Competitive Offshore Ocean Sailing is a highly demanding activity in which subjects are exposed to psychophysical stressors for a long time. To better define the physiological adaptations, we investigated the stress response of subjects exposed to 3-days long ocean navigation with disruption of circadian rhythms. 6 male subjects were involved in the study and provided urine and saliva samples before setting sail, during a single day of inshore sailing, during 3-days long ocean navigation, and at the arrival, to measure oxidative stress, cortisol, nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) and metabolic response. Motion Sickness questionnaires were also administered during the navigation. The crew suffered a mean weight loss of 1.58 kg. After the long navigation, a significant increase in ROS production and decrease in total antioxidant capacity and uric acid levels were observed. Lipid peroxidation, NO metabolites, ketones, creatinine, and neopterin levels were also increased. Furthermore, a significant increase in cortisol levels was measured. Finally, we found a correlation between motion sickness questionnaires with the increase of NOx, and no correlation with cortisol levels. Physical and psychological stress response derived from offshore sailing resulted in increased oxidative stress, nitric oxide metabolites, and cortisol levels, unbalanced redox status, transient renal function impairment, and ketosis. A direct correlation between motion sickness symptoms evaluated through questionnaires and NOx levels was also found.