Alterations in autonomic nervous control of heart rate among tourists at 2700 and 3700 m above sea level

Abstract

Objectives: Many travelers who are not specially trained for activities at high altitude are at risk of physical problems, including cardiovascular disorders, when exposed to high-altitude environments. In the present study, we investigated how actual acute exposure to altitudes of 2700 and 3700 m affected the autonomic nervous control of heart rate in untrained office workers.

Methods: Physiological parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial blood oxygen saturation, and end-expiratory carbon dioxide tension) were measured at sea level, 2700 m, and 3700 m. The power of heart rate variability was quantified by determining the areas of the spectrum in 2 component widths: low frequency (LF; 0.04-0.15 Hz) and high frequency (HF; 0.15-0.5 Hz). The ratio of LF power to HF power (LF:HF), which is considered to be an index of cardiac sympathetic tone, was also assessed.

Results: Both HF and LF heart rate variability decreased according to the elevation of altitude. High- and low-frequency powers at 3700 m were significantly lower than those at sea level (P < .01 for HF, P < .05 for LF). The LF:HF ratio at 2700 m was not significantly different from that at sea level. However, it was significantly increased at 3700 m (P < .01).

Conclusions: At 2700 and 3700 m, the activity of the autonomic nervous system measured by heart rate variability was decreased in untrained office workers. The sympathetic nervous system was dominant to the parasympathetic at 3700 m. These alterations in the autonomic nervous system might play some role in physical fitness at high altitudes.