Ethnic Differences on Cardiac Rhythms and Autonomic Nervous System Responses During a High-Altitude Trek: A Pilot Study Comparing Italian Trekkers to Nepalese Porters.

ABSTRACT: Altitude hypoxia exposure results in increased sympathetic activity and heart rate due to several mechanisms. Recent studies have contested the validity of heart rate variability (HRV) analysis on sympathetic activity measurement. But the plethora of HRV metrics may provide meaningful insights, particularly if linked with cardiovascular and autonomic nervous system parameters. However, the population-specific nature of HRV and cardiorespiratory response to altitude hypoxia are still missing. Six Italian trekkers and six Nepalese porters completed 300 km of a Himalayan trek. The ECG analysis was conducted at baseline, and before (bBC) and after (aBC) the high-altitude (HA) circuit. Urine was collected before and after the expedition in Italians, for assessing catecholamines. H

SUBMITTER: Verratti V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8419438 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature