Safety and exercise tolerance of acute high altitude exposure (3454 m) among patients with coronary artery disease

Schmid, J-P; Noveanu, M; Gaillet, R; Hellige, G; Wahl, A; Saner, H (2006). Safety and exercise tolerance of acute high altitude exposure (3454 m) among patients with coronary artery disease. Heart, 92(7), pp. 921-5. London: BMJ Publishing Group 10.1136/hrt.2005.072520

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OBJECTIVES: To assess the safety and cardiopulmonary adaptation to high altitude exposure among patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS: 22 patients (20 men and 2 women), mean age 57 (SD 7) years, underwent a maximal, symptom limited exercise stress test in Bern, Switzerland (540 m) and after a rapid ascent to the Jungfraujoch (3454 m). The study population comprised 15 patients after ST elevation myocardial infarction and 7 after a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction 12 (SD 4) months after the acute event. All patients were revascularised either by percutaneous coronary angioplasty (n = 15) or by coronary artery bypass surgery (n = 7). Ejection fraction was 60 (SD 8)%. beta blocking agents were withheld for five days before exercise testing. RESULTS: At 3454 m, peak oxygen uptake decreased by 19% (p < 0.001), maximum work capacity by 15% (p < 0.001) and exercise time by 16% (p < 0.001); heart rate, ventilation and lactate were significantly higher at every level of exercise, except at maximum exertion. No ECG signs of myocardial ischaemia or significant arrhythmias were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Although oxygen demand and lactate concentrations are higher during exercise at high altitude, a rapid ascent and submaximal exercise can be considered safe at an altitude of 3454 m for low risk patients six months after revascularisation for an acute coronary event and a normal exercise stress test at low altitude.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Cardiovascular Disorders (DHGE) > Clinic of Cardiology
UniBE Contributor:	Schmid-Walker, Jean-Paul, Wahl, Andreas, Saner, Hugo Ernst
ISSN:	1355-6037
ISBN:	16339809
Publisher:	BMJ Publishing Group
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 14:46
Last Modified:	02 Mar 2023 23:22
Publisher DOI:	10.1136/hrt.2005.072520
PubMed ID:	16339809
Web of Science ID:	000238581300012
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/19048 (FactScience: 1416)