Training in Hypoxia to Prevent Acute Mountain Sickness

Heidelberg University

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Healthy; Acute Mountain Sickness

Treatments: Other: normoxia; Other: hypoxia

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00886912

S-160/2008

Details and patient eligibility

About

Some studies suggest that high-altitude related illnesses - like acute mountain sickness - could be prevented by acclimatisation, reached at low altitude using training in simulated altitude. The purpose of this study is to determine whether training in hypoxia is suitable to prevent acute mountain sickness.

Full description

In a three week-period, healthy probands undergo 3 times a week a bicycle ergometer training in simulated altitude followed by 1 week passive exposure at simulated low altitude. 5 days after last exposure, a field study starts performing a rapid ascent to the Capanna Regina Margherita (4559m). Acute mountain sickness is assessed by established scoring systems.

Enrollment: 50 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 55 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• healthy
• non-smoker
• endurance training min. 2x/week

Exclusion criteria

• any diseases
• previous exposure to altitudes higher than 2000m (last 6 weeks)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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50 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Hypoxia

Active Comparator group

Description:

training in simulated altitude

Treatment:

Other: hypoxia

Normoxia

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

training under normoxic conditions

Treatment:

Other: normoxia