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Acute high altitude exposure, acclimatization and re-exposure on nocturnal breathing

Furian, Michael; Bitos, Konstantinos; Hartmann, Sara E; Muralt, Lara; Lichtblau, Mona; Bader, Patrick R; Rawling, Jean M; Ulrich, Silvia; Poulin, Marc J; Bloch, Konrad E (2022). Acute high altitude exposure, acclimatization and re-exposure on nocturnal breathing. Frontiers in Physiology, 13:965021.

Abstract

Background: Effects of prolonged and repeated high-altitude exposure on oxygenation and control of breathing remain uncertain. We hypothesized that prolonged and repeated high-altitude exposure will improve altitude-induced deoxygenation and breathing instability. Methods: 21 healthy lowlanders, aged 18-30y, underwent two 7-day sojourns at a high-altitude station in Chile (4-8 hrs/day at 5,050 m, nights at 2,900 m), separated by a 1-week recovery period at 520 m. Respiratory sleep studies recording mean nocturnal pulse oximetry (SpO2), oxygen desaturation index (ODI, >3% dips in SpO2), breathing patterns and subjective sleep quality by visual analog scale (SQ-VAS, 0-100% with increasing quality), were evaluated at 520 m and during nights 1 and 6 at 2,900 m in the 1st and 2nd altitude sojourn. Results: At 520 m, mean ± SD nocturnal SpO2 was 94 ± 1%, ODI 2.2 ± 1.2/h, SQ-VAS 59 ± 20%. Corresponding values at 2,900 m, 1st sojourn, night 1 were: SpO2 86 ± 2%, ODI 23.4 ± 22.8/h, SQ-VAS 39 ± 23%; 1st sojourn, night 6: SpO2 90 ± 1%, ODI 7.3 ± 4.4/h, SQ-VAS 55 ± 20% (p < 0.05, all differences within corresponding variables). Mean differences (Δ, 95%CI) in acute effects (2,900 m, night 1, vs 520 m) between 2nd vs 1st altitude sojourn were: ΔSpO2 0% (-1 to 1), ΔODI -9.2/h (-18.0 to -0.5), ΔSQ-VAS 10% (-6 to 27); differences in acclimatization (changes night 6 vs 1), between 2nd vs 1st sojourn at 2,900 m were: ΔSpO2 -1% (-2 to 0), ΔODI 11.1/h (2.5 to 19.7), ΔSQ-VAS -15% (-31 to 1). Conclusion: Acute high-altitude exposure induced nocturnal hypoxemia, cyclic deoxygenations and impaired sleep quality. Acclimatization mitigated these effects. After recovery at 520 m, repeated exposure diminished high-altitude-induced deoxygenation and breathing instability, suggesting some retention of adaptation induced by the first altitude sojourn while subjective sleep quality remained similarly impaired.

Keywords: altitude (MeSH); hypoxia; respiration - physiology; respiratory polygraphy; sleep-disordered breathing.

Additional indexing

Item Type:Journal Article, refereed, original work
Communities & Collections:04 Faculty of Medicine > University Hospital Zurich > Institute of Intensive Care Medicine
04 Faculty of Medicine > University Hospital Zurich > Clinic for Pneumology
04 Faculty of Medicine > University Hospital Zurich > Clinic for Cardiology
Dewey Decimal Classification:610 Medicine & health
Scopus Subject Areas:Life Sciences > Physiology
Health Sciences > Physiology (medical)
Uncontrolled Keywords:Physiology (medical), Physiology
Language:English
Date:5 September 2022
Deposited On:12 Oct 2022 13:13
Last Modified:27 Dec 2024 02:43
Publisher:Frontiers Research Foundation
ISSN:1664-042X
OA Status:Gold
Free access at:PubMed ID. An embargo period may apply.
Publisher DOI:https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.965021
PubMed ID:36134332
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  • Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

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