Effect of High Altitude Exposure, Acclimatization and Re-exposure on Nocturnal Breathing Pattern in Lowlanders
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Zurich
- Enrollment
- 21
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Mean nocturnal oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Prospective interventional trial in lowlanders evaluating the effect of acute exposure, acclimatization and re-exposure of high altitude on nocturnal breathing pattern.
Detailed Description
Respiratory polygraphies will be performed in Santiago de Chile, 520 m, over the course of 3 days. Participants will then travel by commercial airline (5 h flight) and by bus (3 h ride) to the ALMA base camp located at 2900 m near San Pedro de Atacama, northern Chile. Participants will stay there for the next 7 nights and respiratory polygraphies will be performed on night 1 and 6. They will be spend the days (6-8 h daily) at the telescope station at 5050 m while undergoing physiological testing. Daily transports from 2900 to 5050 m will be by car (1 h ride, one way). After the first 8 day altitude sojourn participants will return to the Santiago area (520 m) for a 6 day recovery period.
A second altitude sojourn with an identical schedule as the one described above and a final low altitude stay of 3 days will follow.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •born, raised and currently living <800m
- •No overnight stay at altitudes >1500 m 4 weeks before the study
Exclusion Criteria
- •Previous altitude intolerance to altitude <3000 m
- •Pregnancy
- •Health impairment, which requires regular treatment
Arms & Interventions
Altitude exposure
Acute high altitude exposure followed by 8 day acclimatization and re-exposure after 6 days at low altitude
Intervention: Altitude exposure (Other)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Mean nocturnal oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry
Time Frame: first sojourn at 5050 m, night 1, 6; second sojourn at 5050 m, night 1, 6; low altitude sojourn at 520 m, night 1
Change in mean nocturnal oxygen saturation over the course of high altitude exposure during 2 sojourns at 5050 m compared to low altitude
Secondary Outcomes
- Acute mountain sickness measured by the Environmental Symptom questionnaire cerebral score (AMSc)(first sojourn at 5050 m, day 2, 7; second sojourn at 5050 m, day 2,7; low altitude sojourn at 520 m, day 2)
- Oxygen desaturation index measured by respiratory polygraphy(first sojourn at 5050 m, night 1, 6; second sojourn at 5050 m, night 1, 6; low altitude sojourn at 520 m, night 1)
- Apnea-/hypopnea index measured by respiratory polygraphy(first sojourn at 5050 m, night 1, 6; second sojourn at 5050 m, night 1, 6; low altitude sojourn at 520 m, night 1)