Time Course and Prognostic Significance of Pulmonary Artery Pressure in Highlanders.

University of Zurich (UZH)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Sleep Apnea; High Altitude Pulmonary Hypertension

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03165019

01-8/433

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the clinical and physiologic course of Kyrgyz highlanders with high altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH) by performing a longitudinal cohort study. To this end, the investigators will invite the same highlanders who participated in the study in 2012 to undergo follow-up examinations in 2017, in order to allow comparisons of current results with baseline data from 2012.

Enrollment: 165 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 16+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• high altitude pulmonary hypertension confirmed by clinical presentation and mean pulmonary artery pressure >30 mmHg measured by echocardiography at altitude of residence.
• healthy subjects (high altitude controls)
• Both genders
• Age >16 y
• Kyrgyz ethnicity
• born, raised and currently living at >2500 m
• healthy subjects currently living at <1000 m (low altitude controls)

Exclusion criteria

• Pulmonary hypertension from other causes, in particular from left ventricular failure as judged clinically and by echocardiography
• Excessive erythrocytosis
• Other coexistent disorders that may interfere with the cardio-respiratory system and sleep
• Regular use of medication that affects control of breathing
• Heavy smoking

Trial design

165 participants in 3 patient groups

High altitude pulmonary hypertension

Description:

Highlanders with high altitude pulmonary hypertension living above 2500 m.

High altitude control

Description:

Healthy highlanders living above 2500 m.

Low altitude control

Description:

Healthy lowlanders living below 1000 m.