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The Effect of Sex on Heart Rate Variability at High Altitude
Christopher John Boos1, Emma Vincent, Adrian Mellor
11Department of Cardiology, Poole Hospital NHS Foundation trust, Poole, UNITED KINGDOM; 2Department of Postgraduate Medical Education, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UNITED KINGDOM; 3Research Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UNITED KINGDOM; 4Defence Medical Services, Lichfield, UNITED KINGDOM; 5Department of Anaesthetics, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UNITED KINGDOM; 6Department of Medicine, Northumbria and Newcastle NHS Trusts, Wansbeck General and Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, UNITED KINGDOM; and 7Department of Academic Medicine, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UNITED KINGDOM.
High altitude exposure reduces heart rate variability (HRV) in both men and women. While differences emerge between sexes at high altitude, HRV did not predict acute mountain sickness (AMS).
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Altitude Medicine
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- High altitude (HA) exposure is known to decrease heart rate variability (HRV).
- The relationship between sex, HRV changes at HA, and acute mountain sickness (AMS) remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of sex on HRV changes during HA exposure.
- To determine if HRV can predict AMS development at HA.
Main Methods:
- HRV was measured in 63 healthy adults (men and women) at sea level and various altitudes (3619, 4600, 5140 m).
- Factorial repeated-measures ANOVA assessed altitude and sex effects on HRV indices.
- Logistic regression analyzed HRV's predictive capability for AMS.
Main Results:
- Altitude significantly affected heart rate and most HRV measures, with reductions observed between 3619 and 5140 m.
- Men exhibited lower heart rate and higher HRV indices (SDNN, RMSSD, LF, HF, TP) compared to women at HA.
- No interaction between sex and altitude was found for HRV indices; HRV did not predict AMS.
Conclusions:
- Increasing altitude progressively reduces HRV.
- Sex-specific differences in HRV become apparent at high altitude.
- HRV is not a reliable predictor of AMS development.
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