Pulmonary vascular disease & thromboembolism
Pulmonary haemodynamics and right heart function during exercise at high versus low altitude in patients with pulmonary vascular disease: a randomised crossover trial
Authors' conclusion
Despite higher baseline sPAP and reduced RV coupling at rest, exercise-induced haemodynamic changes were similar at both high and low altitudes, suggesting short-term altitude exposure does not exacerbate cardiopulmonary stress during exercise in stable PAH/CTEPH.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with stable PAH/CTEPH without resting hypoxaemia
- Participants
- 27 patients
- Comparison
- High altitude vs low altitude
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
sPAP and RV arterial coupling (TAPSE/sPAP) at rest and during exercise (echocardiography)
2500 m vs 470 mMean difference, mm Hg (95% CI)
sPAP at rest
14(7–23)
2500 m vs 470 mDifference, mm/mm Hg (95% CI)
RV arterial coupling at rest
−0.13(−0.26 to −0.04)
- Systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) slope during exercise, 2500 m vs 470 m (similar)
- 7.9 vs 9.7 mm Hg/min
Further findings
Constant work-rate exercise tests (CWRET) haemodynamics
- sPAP rose steeply in first 3 min, then plateaued; no altitude-dependent differences in pressure-flow slope
Oxygen delivery
- Reduced at high altitude
Original publication
Pulmonary haemodynamics and right heart function during exercise at high versus low altitude in patients with pulmonary vascular disease: a randomised crossover trial. Heart. Published 22 May 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →