Evaluation of cardiac function in healthy children native to 1890 metres

The aim of the study is, by comparing cardiac parameters between children native to 1890 metres with children living at sea level, to find out whether there is any impairment in cardiac function related to that altitude.

Electrocardiographic, conventional, and tissue Doppler echocardiographic parameters were compared in 42 healthy children native to 1890 metres, and in 21 healthy age and gender matched children living at sea level. Plasma haemoglobin level and oxygen saturation measured by pulse oxymeter were also obtained from all patients.

Haemoglobin levels were higher, and oxygen saturation levels were lower in children native to 1890 metres. Conventional echocardiographic parameters and mitral annular myocardial parameters were all similar between children native to 1890 metres and children living at sea level. Tricuspid lateral annular early diastolic velocity and the ratio of early-to-late diastolic velocity were significantly lower and tricuspid lateral annular izovolumetric relaxation time was significantly higher in children native to 1890 metres than children living at sea level.

Children living at 1890 metres of altitude predispose to asymptomatic right ventricular diastolic dysfunction or otherwise they remain as healthy children.