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ABSTRACT: Importance
To date, there is no established evidence of sex-specific differences in altitude-induced sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) during polysomnography-confirmed sleep.Objective
The aim of this study was to investigate whether differences in sex play a pivotal role in incidences of SDB and acute mountain sickness (AMS) when staying overnight at high altitude.Design
This was a prospective cohort study.Setting
Participants underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG) and clinical assessment in a sleep laboratory at 500 m and two consecutive days at 3270 m.Participants
The participants comprised 28 (18 women) healthy, young, low-altitude residents with a median (interquartile range) age of 26.0 (25.0, 28.0) years.Exposures
Altitude exposure.Main outcomes and measures
The primary outcome was altitude-induced change in the PSG-confirmed apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) at 3270 m compared to 500 m between men and women. Secondary outcomes included sex differences in other parameters related to SDB, sleep structure, AMS, psychomotor vigilance test reaction time and parameters from arterial and venous blood analyses.Results
The median (interquartile range) AHIs at 500 m and 3270 m on night 1 and on night 2 were 6.5/h (3.6, 9.1), 23.7/h (16.2, 42.5) and 15.2/h (11.8, 20.9) in men, respectively, and 2.2/h (1.0, 5.5), 8.0/h (5.3, 17.0) and 7.1/h (4.9, 11.5) in women, respectively (p < 0.05 nights 1 and 2 at 3270 m vs. 500 m in men and women). The median difference (95% CI) of altitude-induced change in AHI (3270 m night 1 compared to 500 m) between men and women was 11.2/h (1.9 to 19.6) (p < 0.05). Over the time course of 2 days at 3270 m, 9 out of 18 (50%) women and 1 out of 10 (10%) men developed AMS (p < 0.05 women versus men).Conclusions and relevance
This prospective cohort study showed that men were more susceptible to altitude-induced SDB but that they had a lower AMS incidence when staying for 2 days at 3270 m than women. These findings indicate that sex-related prevention and intervention strategies against SDB and AMS are highly warranted.Trial registration
This trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry; No. ChiCTR1800020155.
SUBMITTER: Li T
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9143383 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Li Taomei T Tan Lu L Furian Michael M Zhang Yanyan Y Luo Lian L Lei Fei F Xue Xiaofang X He Jiaming J Tang Xiangdong X
Journal of clinical medicine 20220519 10
Importance: To date, there is no established evidence of sex-specific differences in altitude-induced sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) during polysomnography-confirmed sleep. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether differences in sex play a pivotal role in incidences of SDB and acute mountain sickness (AMS) when staying overnight at high altitude. Design: This was a prospective cohort study. Setting: Participants underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG) and clinical assessme ...[more]