Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Graduate
Project Type
individual
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Swarna Manoj, Graduate student
Lead Presenter's Name
Swarna Manoj
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Scott Ferguson
Abstract
Impact of Stress & Fatigue on Cardiovascular Function in Young Pilots: A Thematic Review Authors: Swarna Manoj, Scott Ferguson Keywords: pilot, stress, fatigue, heart rate variability (HRV), cardiovascular disease (CVD) Aviation is expanding globally and young pilots are the major workforce, yet FAA protocols require mandatory ECG only from age 35, with annual cardiac screening after age 40. Over the past five years, a pattern of sudden cardiac arrests in pilots particularly aged 30-40 has urged safety concerns. Despite the existing literature examining fatigue, burnout, stress, sleep hygiene and circadian disruption, only few studies systematically examine how these factors impact cardiovascular function in young pilots. Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched six databases (PubMed, WebofScience, Scopus, PsycINFO, Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine) from 2000 to 2026 using search terms combining "stress," "fatigue," "cardiovascular," “CVD, "HRV," and "young pilots." Initial search resulted in 760 papers, screening and deduplication yielded 42 papers. Seventeen papers providing direct cardiovascular and HRV outcomes were selected for detailed thematic analysis. Data extraction and inductive thematic coding identified emergent patterns across studies. Four themes emerged consistently. 1.Acute stress triggers sympathetic activation (elevated heart-rate, blood pressure, reduced HRV), 2.Fatigue induces parasympathetic shifts and impaired autonomic recovery, 3.Chronic occupational exposure shows cumulative autonomic dysregulation across consecutive duty cycles, 4.HRV represents as a sensitive non-invasive biomarker for early cardiovascular risk detection. Critically, a subjective vs objective dissociation was identified, pilots frequently self-report adequately rested while physiological markers indicates significant autonomic stress, directly compromising cognitive function and flight safety. This preliminary thematic synthesis demonstrates that objective HRV monitoring integrated into occupational health surveillance could enable early detection of autonomic deterioration before critical cardiac events occur. Future work will incorporate formal quality assessment and meta-analysis to strengthen the evidence base and inform data-driven regulatory recommendations.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Included in
Aerospace Medicine Commons, Aviation Safety and Security Commons, Cardiovascular System Commons, Research Methods in Life Sciences Commons
Impact of Stress & Fatigue on Cardiovascular Function in Young Pilots: A Thematic Review
Impact of Stress & Fatigue on Cardiovascular Function in Young Pilots: A Thematic Review Authors: Swarna Manoj, Scott Ferguson Keywords: pilot, stress, fatigue, heart rate variability (HRV), cardiovascular disease (CVD) Aviation is expanding globally and young pilots are the major workforce, yet FAA protocols require mandatory ECG only from age 35, with annual cardiac screening after age 40. Over the past five years, a pattern of sudden cardiac arrests in pilots particularly aged 30-40 has urged safety concerns. Despite the existing literature examining fatigue, burnout, stress, sleep hygiene and circadian disruption, only few studies systematically examine how these factors impact cardiovascular function in young pilots. Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched six databases (PubMed, WebofScience, Scopus, PsycINFO, Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine) from 2000 to 2026 using search terms combining "stress," "fatigue," "cardiovascular," “CVD, "HRV," and "young pilots." Initial search resulted in 760 papers, screening and deduplication yielded 42 papers. Seventeen papers providing direct cardiovascular and HRV outcomes were selected for detailed thematic analysis. Data extraction and inductive thematic coding identified emergent patterns across studies. Four themes emerged consistently. 1.Acute stress triggers sympathetic activation (elevated heart-rate, blood pressure, reduced HRV), 2.Fatigue induces parasympathetic shifts and impaired autonomic recovery, 3.Chronic occupational exposure shows cumulative autonomic dysregulation across consecutive duty cycles, 4.HRV represents as a sensitive non-invasive biomarker for early cardiovascular risk detection. Critically, a subjective vs objective dissociation was identified, pilots frequently self-report adequately rested while physiological markers indicates significant autonomic stress, directly compromising cognitive function and flight safety. This preliminary thematic synthesis demonstrates that objective HRV monitoring integrated into occupational health surveillance could enable early detection of autonomic deterioration before critical cardiac events occur. Future work will incorporate formal quality assessment and meta-analysis to strengthen the evidence base and inform data-driven regulatory recommendations.