title: 3-week hiking holidays at moderate altitude do not impair cardiac function in individuals with metabolic syndrome.
abstract: We studied the influence of a 3-week hiking vacation at moderate altitude on cardiac pump and endocrine function. 18 males (mean age: 55 years, range 36-60) with metabolic syndrome participated in a 3-week structured guided hiking vacation program (4 times per week at 55-65% of maximal heart rate, total exercise time 29 h). Echocardiography, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), NT-proBNP, and endothelin-1 measurements were performed at baseline in Innsbruck (576 m a.s.l., Austria), on the first day at moderate altitude (Obertauern, 1700 m a.s.l., Austria), after 3 weeks in Obertauern, and at follow-up in Innsbruck. We found no adverse cardiovascular effects and no significant changes in echocardiographic measures of systolic or diastolic function, estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure, exercise capacities, BNP and NT-proBNP, or endothelin-1 concentrations. The blood pressure at rest significantly decreased from baseline to follow-up.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mair
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hammerer-Lercher
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mittermayr
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klingler
authors.forename: Egon
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Humpeler
authors.forename: Otmar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pachinger
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schobersberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009051:Mountaineering / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors