Validation of a human thermoregulatory model during prolonged immersion in warm water

• Published in: Computers in biology and medicine Vol. 167; p. 107575
• Main Authors: Castellani, Michael P., Rioux, Timothy P., Castellani, John W., Reed, Mitchell D., Whalen, Stefanie, Cisternelli, Monica, Python, Grace, Lewandowski, Marion J., Xu, Xiaojiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2023; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Algorithms; Body fat; Body Temperature; Body Temperature Regulation; Coastguard services; Cold; Cold Temperature; Dehydration; Evacuations & rescues; Exercise; Heat conductivity; Heat transfer; Humans; Humidity; Hypothermia; Immersion; Internal Medicine; Medical screening; Metabolism; Modelling; Other; Physiology; Predictions; Protective clothing; Search and rescue missions; Skin; Skin Temperature; Submerging; Survival; Survival time; Thermoregulation; Volunteers; Warm water; Water; Water immersion; Water loss; Water temperature; Thermoregulation; Modelling; Survival time; Water immersion; Hypothermia
• ISSN: 0010-4825; 1879-0534; 1879-0534
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107575

This study validates the Six Cylinder Thermoregulatory Model (SCTM) during prolonged warm water immersion, which underpins the Probability of Survival Decision Aid (PSDA) currently in use by the United States Coast Guard (USCG). PSDA predicts survival time for hypothermia and dehydration. USCG has been using PSDA for search and rescue operation since 2010. In 2019, USCG organized a workshop to review PSDA performance and concluded that PSDA is an essential tool for operation, although it occasionally overestimates survival times in warm waters above 16 °C. Forty-six human subjects were immersed from the neck down in 18, 22, and 26 °C water for 45 min up to 10 h. Rectal temperature (Tcore), 10-site mean skin temperature (Tsk), and water loss were measured. At the end of immersion, Tcore ranged from 35.2 to 38.0 °C, and Tsk ranged from 19.7 to 27.4 °C. The SCTM-predicted Tcore, Tsk and water loss were compared to the measured values. Root mean squared deviation (RMSD) was used to test for acceptable predictions. Tcore RMSDs were 0.2, 0.14, and 0.3 °C in 18, 22, and 26 °C water respectively. Tsk RMSDs were 1.44, 0.76, and 1.1 °C in 18, 22, and 26 °C water respectively. SCTM underpredicted water loss by 84%. Overall, SCTM predicted Tcore and Tsk with acceptable accuracy in 18 and 22 °C water for up to 10 h, but overpredicted in 26 °C water. Future studies and algorithm development are required to improve water loss prediction as well as Tcore and Tsk prediction in 26 °C water. •Thermal responses in 18, 22 and 26 °C water for up to 10 h were studied.•A six cylinder thermoregulatory model was validated for prolonged warm water immersion.•The model accurately predicts core and skin temperatures in 18 and 22 °C water.