Effect of rapid ascent to high altitude on autonomic cardiovascular modulation.
BACKGROUND
Effect of acute hypobaric hypoxia on autonomic nervous activities remains unclear. We evaluated the effect of rapid ascent to high altitude on autonomic cardiovascular modulation and compared the differences between the subjects with and without acute mountain sickness (AMS).


METHODS
Twenty-seven unacclimatized healthy subjects were included for this study. The sleep and study altitude (3180 m) was reached by car from low level (555 m) within 3 hours. The stationary spectral heart rate variability was measured 3 days before ascent (T0), 2 nights at high altitude (T1 and T2), and 2 days after descent (T3). AMS occurrence was evaluated by the Lake Louise score system.


RESULTS
At high altitude, RR intervals (RRI), standard deviation of RRI (SDRR), total power (TP), low-frequency power (LF), high-frequency power (HF), and normalized HF decreased significantly but normalized LF and LF/HF ratio increased significantly in subjects irrespective of AMS. AMS developed in 13 of 27 (48.1%) subjects. Compared with the data at T1, SDRR, TP, LF, and HF increased at T2 in AMS group but decreased in non-AMS group, and the differences in these variables (data at T2 minus data at T1) between the 2 groups showed statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
After rapid ascent to high altitude, autonomic nervous activities were suppressed and sympathetic activity was relatively predominant. At high altitude, the discordant changes in SDRR, TP, LF, and HF may reflect varying capacity of acute hypobaric hypoxic adaptation between the subjects with and without AMS.
Chen
Yi-Chu
YC
Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lin
Fang-Chi
FC
Shiao
Guang-Ming
GM
Chang
Shi-Chuan
SC
D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology
D010100:Oxygen