Cardiac function and pulmonary hypertension in Central Asian highlanders at 3250 m

Lichtblau, Mona; Saxer, Stéphanie; Furian, Michael; Mayer, Laura; Bader, Patrick R; Scheiwiller, Philipp M; Mademilov, Maamed; Sheraliev, Ulan; Tanner, Felix C; Sooronbaev, Talant M; Bloch, Konrad E; Ulrich, Silvia

doi:10.5167/uzh-194648

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Lichtblau, M., Saxer, S., Furian, M., Mayer, L., Bader, P. R., Scheiwiller, P. M., Mademilov, M., Sheraliev, U., Tanner, F. C., Sooronbaev, T. M., Bloch, K. E., & Ulrich, S. (2020). Cardiac function and pulmonary hypertension in Central Asian highlanders at 3250 m. European Respiratory Journal, 56(2), 1902474. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02474-2019

Abstract

THE QUESTION ADDRESSED BY THE STUDY

Chronic exposure to hypoxia increases pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in highlanders, but the criteria for diagnosis of high-altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH) are debated. We assessed cardiac function and PAP in highlanders at 3250 m and explored HAPH prevalence using different definitions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Central Asian highlanders free of overt cardiorespiratory disease, permanently living at 2500-3500 m compared to age-matched lowlanders living <800 m. Participants underwent echocardi