Acclimatization of Biometric Parameters at Elevation Do Not Differ Between Endurance Athletes and the General Population

Abstract

Study ObjectiveFitness is generally assumed irrelevant to the impact of acclimatization to altitude. Our goal was to assess the significance of differences in acclimatization between elite endurance athletes and the general population.MethodsThis institutional review board approved study took place in Leh, India, at approximately 13,000 feet during a 10-day acclimatization period. Thirty-nine subjects were enrolled in the study but after exclusion, 26 were included for analyses. Weight, vital signs and point-of-care hemoglobin were taken on day 2 and day 7 of the acclimatization period. Elite endurance athletes were defined as individuals who had successfully completed at least one ultra-marathon. The quality of acclimatization was defined by increasing hemoglobin levels, systolic blood pressure and oxygen saturation, as well as decreasing heart and respiratory rates.ResultsThe elite endurance athletes (n=14) had a statistically significant drop in average (SD) weight from 68.7(13.3) to 67.8(13.8) (p= 0.03). They demonstrated a statistically significant rise in systolic and diastolic blood pressure from 117(6) to 126(10) (p= 0.007) and 75(7) to 82(8) (p= 0.013). They exhibited no statistically significant change in hemoglobin level, temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate or oxygen saturation.The general population group (n=12) also had a statistically significant drop in average (SD) weight from 72.9(14.8) to 71.0(13.8) (p= 0.02). They also demonstrated a statistically significant rise in systolic blood pressure from 120(12) to 133(23) (p= 0.047). This group exhibited no statistically significant changes in diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin level, temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate or oxygen saturation.ConclusionsBoth groups achieved statistically significant decreases in weight and increases in systolic blood pressure. There was no statistically significant change in hemoglobin level, temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, or oxygen saturation in either group. This study suggests that, in terms of acclimatization, there was no correlation between elite endurance status and quality of altitude acclimatization. Study ObjectiveFitness is generally assumed irrelevant to the impact of acclimatization to altitude. Our goal was to assess the significance of differences in acclimatization between elite endurance athletes and the general population. Fitness is generally assumed irrelevant to the impact of acclimatization to altitude. Our goal was to assess the significance of differences in acclimatization between elite endurance athletes and the general population. MethodsThis institutional review board approved study took place in Leh, India, at approximately 13,000 feet during a 10-day acclimatization period. Thirty-nine subjects were enrolled in the study but after exclusion, 26 were included for analyses. Weight, vital signs and point-of-care hemoglobin were taken on day 2 and day 7 of the acclimatization period. Elite endurance athletes were defined as individuals who had successfully completed at least one ultra-marathon. The quality of acclimatization was defined by increasing hemoglobin levels, systolic blood pressure and oxygen saturation, as well as decreasing heart and respiratory rates. This institutional review board approved study took place in Leh, India, at approximately 13,000 feet during a 10-day acclimatization period. Thirty-nine subjects were enrolled in the study but after exclusion, 26 were included for analyses. Weight, vital signs and point-of-care hemoglobin were taken on day 2 and day 7 of the acclimatization period. Elite endurance athletes were defined as individuals who had successfully completed at least one ultra-marathon. The quality of acclimatization was defined by increasing hemoglobin levels, systolic blood pressure and oxygen saturation, as well as decreasing heart and respiratory rates. ResultsThe elite endurance athletes (n=14) had a statistically significant drop in average (SD) weight from 68.7(13.3) to 67.8(13.8) (p= 0.03). They demonstrated a statistically significant rise in systolic and diastolic blood pressure from 117(6) to 126(10) (p= 0.007) and 75(7) to 82(8) (p= 0.013). They exhibited no statistically significant change in hemoglobin level, temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate or oxygen saturation.The general population group (n=12) also had a statistically significant drop in average (SD) weight from 72.9(14.8) to 71.0(13.8) (p= 0.02). They also demonstrated a statistically significant rise in systolic blood pressure from 120(12) to 133(23) (p= 0.047). This group exhibited no statistically significant changes in diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin level, temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate or oxygen saturation. The elite endurance athletes (n=14) had a statistically significant drop in average (SD) weight from 68.7(13.3) to 67.8(13.8) (p= 0.03). They demonstrated a statistically significant rise in systolic and diastolic blood pressure from 117(6) to 126(10) (p= 0.007) and 75(7) to 82(8) (p= 0.013). They exhibited no statistically significant change in hemoglobin level, temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate or oxygen saturation. The general population group (n=12) also had a statistically significant drop in average (SD) weight from 72.9(14.8) to 71.0(13.8) (p= 0.02). They also demonstrated a statistically significant rise in systolic blood pressure from 120(12) to 133(23) (p= 0.047). This group exhibited no statistically significant changes in diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin level, temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate or oxygen saturation. ConclusionsBoth groups achieved statistically significant decreases in weight and increases in systolic blood pressure. There was no statistically significant change in hemoglobin level, temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, or oxygen saturation in either group. This study suggests that, in terms of acclimatization, there was no correlation between elite endurance status and quality of altitude acclimatization. Both groups achieved statistically significant decreases in weight and increases in systolic blood pressure. There was no statistically significant change in hemoglobin level, temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, or oxygen saturation in either group. This study suggests that, in terms of acclimatization, there was no correlation between elite endurance status and quality of altitude acclimatization.