C. Keyl et al., Effects of breathing control on cardiocirculatory modulation in Caucasian lowlanders and Himalayan Sherpas, EUR J A PHY, 83(6), 2000, pp. 481-486
This study was performed to investigate the influence of breathing control
on the autonomic cardiac regulation at high altitude in adapted and non-ada
pted awake subjects. We recorded electrocardiogram and pulse oximetry in 14
short-term acclimatized lowlanders and 14 Himalayan Sherpas during resting
conditions at an altitude of 5,050 m. Spectrum analysis was performed on s
ynchronized 15 min periods of R-R intervals and the oxygen saturation of ar
terial blood (SaO2). Despite mean SaO2 being similar in lowlanders and Hima
layan Sherpas [78.5 (SD 7.0)% compared to 79.4 (SD5.8)%, respectively], flu
ctuations in SaO2 were significantly increased in lowlanders compared to Sh
erpas, thus indicating an unstable regulation of respiration control in low
landers. Regression analysis demonstrated a significant relationship betwee
n spectrum power of SaO2 and the relative power of R-R intervals in the fre
quency band between 0.01 and 0.08 Hz in lowlanders, but not in Sherpas. Our
results demonstrate differences in respiratory and autonomic cardiac contr
ol between non-adapted lowlanders and Himalayan high-altitude residents and
indicate that unstable breathing control during chronic hypobaric hypoxia
is significantly correlated with the autonomic cardiocirculatory regulation
.