Pulmonary Function Parameters Changes at Different Altitudes in Healthy Athletes

Abstract

Hypoxia and hypocapnia can cause broncho-constriction in human subjects, and this could have a bearing on performance at high altitude. The object of this study was to examine how pulmonary ventilatory functions during high-altitude trekking.

This study is a cohort study on spirometric parameters at different altitudes. Fifty six healthy male volunteers from a university student population were enrolled in the study (ages 22.9±5.3 years). Pulmonary function was assessed with a Spirolab II in all participants before ascending at baseline (1150 meter), after ascending at different altitudes (2850, 4150 meter), and after descending at sea level during a 3-day trek in Sialan Mount.

This study indicates that in an actual trek, ascending results in significant decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC). FVC significantly decreased with increasing altitude from baseline level and at the sea level it was significantly less than baseline level. Peak flow increased with increasing altitude from baseline (1150 m) to 2850 m and decreased with decreasing altitude (p<0.01). Maximal midexpiratory flow rate (FEF 25-75%) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced expiratory volume ratio (FEV1.0%) significantly increased with increasing and decreasing altitude from baseline level (p<0.001). There was no significant change in FEV1.

It could be concluded that changes in some pulmonary ventilatory parameters were proportional to the magnitude of change in altitude during a high-altitude trek. These changes are significant at the beginning of ascending.