Risk profiles of elite breath-hold divers

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to determine a typical profile of elite breath-hold divers (BHDs), in relation to loss of consciousness (LOC) and episodic memory. Forty-four BHDs were evaluated during a world championship with anthropometric and physiological measurements, psychosociological factors and memory assessment. Seventy-five percent of the BHDs had at least one LOC with the predominance being men (p < 0.05). Thirty six percent of BHDs presented a low-risk profile and 64% a high-risk profile with no particular psychological pattern. Stepwise multiple linear regression showed that body fat, years of BH practice, age and forced vital capacity explained a significant amount of the variance of LOC for all BHDs (F(4,39) = 16.03, p < 0.001, R² = 0.622, R²_Adjusted = 0.583). No correlation was found between resting physiological parameters and their training or depth performances. In conclusion, anthropometric data, pulmonary factors and breath-holding experience were predictive of LOC in elite BHDs, with men taking more risks. BHDs episodic memory was not impaired.

KEYWORDS:

• Loss of consciousness
• hypoxia
• depth
• risk profiles

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the BHDs who participated in this study and all the members of the organization of the freediving competition studied for their support. The authors would also like to thank the Association pour la Promotion de la Recherche sur l’Apnée et les Activités Subaquatiques (APRAAS), for their funding support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Contribution list

1. N., E.C. and F.L. designed the study, performed the tests, analyzed and wrote the manuscript.

2. A, D.F., B.L. and A.B. analyzed and wrote the manuscript.

Ethical statement

Our study was approved by CPP SUD-Est IV (n°20.12.31.15101). All participants provided written informed consent prior to enrollment in the study.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2024.2368718.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.