Risk Factors for Exertional Heat Illness

Summary

The arduous nature of military training and operations require personnel to encounter high heat load, e.g., during intense physical exertion, particularly in the heat. These conditions reduce operational effectiveness and expose personnel to a risk of incapacitation and death from exertional heat illness (EHI).

The aim of this study is to examine traditional and novel risk factors that may increase thermal strain and EHI likelihood in military recruits undergoing strenuous physical exercise.

Conditions

• Exertional Heat Illness

Interventions

OTHER

Core temperature monitoring

Core temperature will be monitored on the day of exercise

BEHAVIORAL

Questionnaires

Questionnaires will be completed at baseline and on the day of exercise

OTHER

Heart rate monitoring

Heart rate will be monitored on the day of exercise

OTHER

Urine collection

Urine samples will be collected at baseline and on the day of exercise

OTHER

Sleep monitoring

Sleep will be monitored at baseline and on the day of exercise

OTHER

Blood collection

Blood samples will be completed at baseline

OTHER

Saliva collection

Saliva samples will be collected at baseline and on the day of exercise

OTHER

Throat swab collection

Throat swab samples will be collected at baseline and on the day of exercise

OTHER

Stool collection

Stool samples will be collected at baseline and on the day of exercise

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Institute of Naval Medicine (UK)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• CTCRM Lympstone (UK)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Portsmouth (UK)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Public Health Wales

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Bangor University (UK)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Headquarters Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command (UK)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Defence Science and Technology (UK)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Liverpool John Moores University

  lead OTHER

Eligibility

Min Age

17 Years

Max Age

35 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-06-11

Primary Completion

2024-07-22

Completion

2025-07-31

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations