title: Effects of hiking at moderate and low altitude on cardiovascular parameters in male patients with metabolic syndrome: Austrian Moderate Altitude Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physical activity is a cornerstone in therapy for patients with metabolic syndrome. Walking and hiking in a mountain scenery represents an ideal approach to make them move. The Austrian Moderate Altitude Study (AMAS) 2000 main study is a randomized controlled trial to investigate the cardiovascular effects of hiking at moderate altitude on patients with metabolic syndrome compared with a control group at low altitude, to assess a potential altitude-specific effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one male patients with metabolic syndrome were randomly assigned to a moderate altitude group (at 1700 m), with 36 participants, or to a low altitude group (at 200 m), with 35 participants. The 3-week vacation program included 12 hiking tours (4 per week, average duration 2.5 hours, intensity 55% to 65% of heart rate maximum). Physical parameters, performance capacity, 24-hour blood pressure, and heart rate profiles were obtained before, during, and after the stay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both groups, we found a significant mean weight loss of -3.13 kg; changes in performance capacity were minor. Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures and circadian heart rate profiles were significantly reduced in both groups, with no differences between them. Consequently, the pressure-rate product was reduced as well. All study participants tolerated the vacation well without any adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 3-week hiking vacation at moderate or low altitude is safe for patients with metabolic syndrome and provides several improvements in their cardiovascular parameters. The cardiovascular benefits achieved are more likely to be the result of regular physical activity than the altitude-specific effect of a mountain environment.
authors.affiliation: Medical Practice, Lienz, Austria (Dr Neumayr). Electronic address: neumayr.g@aon.at.
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neumayr
authors.affiliation: University Clinic for Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Innsbruck, Austria (Drs Fries and Mittermayer).
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fries
authors.affiliation: University Clinic for Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Innsbruck, Austria (Drs Fries and Mittermayer).
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mittermayer
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Leisure and Travel Medicine, Bregenz, Austria (Dr Humpeler).
authors.forename: Egon
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Humpeler
authors.affiliation: ASSIGN Data Management and Biostatistics GmbH, Innsbruck, Austria (Dr Klingler).
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klingler
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sports Medicine, Alpine Medicine & Health Tourism, UMIT Hall, and TILAK, Innsbruck, Austria (Dr Schobersberger).
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schobersberger
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sport Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria (Drs Spiesberger and Pokan).
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spiesberger
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sport Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria (Drs Spiesberger and Pokan).
authors.forename: Rochus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pokan
authors.affiliation: Center for Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Bad Schallerbach, Austria (Drs Schmid and Berent).
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.affiliation: Center for Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Bad Schallerbach, Austria (Drs Schmid and Berent).
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berent
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000531:Altitude; D001317:Austria; D001794:Blood Pressure; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking
keywords: Austrian Moderate Altitude Study; cardiovascular parameters; hiking; metabolic syndrome; moderate altitude