HOW WELL DO OLDER PERSONS TOLERATE MODERATE ALTITUDE

We studied the physiologic and clinical responses to moderate altitude in 97 older men and women (aged 59 to 83 years) over 5 days in Vail, Colorado, at an elevation of 2,500 m (8,200 ft). The incidence of acut e mountain sickness was 16%, which is slightly lower than that reporte d for younger persons. The occurrence of symptoms of acute mountain si ckness did not parallel arterial oxygen saturation or spirometric or b lood pressure measurements. Chronic diseases were present in percentag es typical for ambulatory elderly persons: 19 (20%) had coronary arter y disease, 33 (34%) had hypertension, and 9 (9%) had lung disease. Des pite this, no adverse signs or symptoms occurred in our subjects durin g their stay at this altitude. Our findings suggest that persons with preexisting, generally asymptomatic, cardiovascular or pulmonary disea se can safely visit moderate altitudes.