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Population distribution residing at different altitudes: implications for hypoxemia.

Rogelio Pérez-Padilla1

  • 1Dirección Médica, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER), Calzada de Tlalpan #4502, 14080 Mexico City, D.F., Mexico. perezpad@servidor.unam.mx

Archives of Medical Research
|March 12, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Many Mexicans live at high altitudes, increasing their risk of hypoxemia (low partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood). This condition can negatively impact health, especially for the elderly and those with respiratory issues.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Physiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Hypoxemia, or low partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2), poses significant health risks.
  • Altitude is a major environmental factor influencing oxygen levels in the air.
  • Understanding the prevalence of altitude-related hypoxemia is crucial for public health in Mexico.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the prevalence of altitude-related hypoxemia in the Mexican population.
  • To identify the proportion of Mexicans living at altitudes associated with reduced oxygen levels.
  • To assess the potential health implications of widespread exposure to high altitudes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized census and geographic data from the Mexican Institute of Statistics, Geography, and Informatics (INEGI).

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  • Estimated partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) based on community altitude.
  • Incorporated an age-dependent alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient into PaO2 estimations.

    • Main Results:

    • 3.95% of the Mexican population resides at altitudes of 2,500 meters or higher.
    • Half of the Mexican population lives above 1,550 meters, with significant portions above 2,000 meters.
    • An estimated 0.9% to 3.4% of the healthy population may have resting PaO2 <55 torr, a threshold for oxygen therapy.

    Conclusions:

    • A substantial number of Mexicans inhabit high-altitude regions, potentially leading to hypoxemia.
    • Altitude-induced hypoxemia can adversely affect the health of the general population.
    • Elderly individuals and those with respiratory diseases are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of hypoxia.