title: Electrocardiographic evidence for right heart strain in asymptomatic children living in Tibet--a comparative study between Han Chinese and ethnic Tibetans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare ethnic Tibetan children with Han Chinese migrants for signs of right ventricular strain using electrocardiography (ECG) that would suggest chronic hypoxia at altitudes of 3500 to 4500 m above sea level.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty-five asymptomatic school children aged 7 to 12 years were assessed for height, weight, and blood pressure and underwent a single ECG at 2 centers at 3500 and 4500 m. A questionnaire was given to parents to provide demographic data with relevant medical history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a high prevalence of right ventricular strain on ECG for both Tibetan and Han children (33%) with no significant difference between the 2 ethnic groups or sexes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Other studies showing higher observed rates of symptomatic chronic altitude sickness in Han Chinese children suggest that other extracardiologic factors play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: St James University Hospital, Leeds, UK. billhulme@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Charles W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hulme
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Ingram
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lonsdale-Eccles
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017380:Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018609:Tibet