Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2025
Assessment of Cardiac Morphological and Functional Changes in Mouse Model of Transverse Aortic Constriction by Echocardiographic Imaging
Published on: June 21, 2016
The impact of high-altitude migration on cardiac structure and function: a 1-year prospective study
Ming-Dan Deng1, Xin-Jie Zhang1, Qin Feng1
1Department of Ultrasound, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Insights
Human migration to high altitudes (HA) causes reduced cardiac chamber size and blood volume. Long-term HA exposure leads to decreased heart function and increased pulmonary artery pressure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Altitude Physiology
- Human Migration Studies
Background:
- Increasing human migration to high altitudes (HA) necessitates understanding its physiological effects.
- Limited prospective studies exist on cardiac changes beyond one month at HA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cardiac structure and function changes in healthy young males after long-term migration to HA.
- To compare effects of different HA levels (3600-4000m vs. 4000-4700m) on cardiac parameters.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 122 healthy young males migrating to HA.
- Echocardiographic measurements at sea level, 1 month, and 1 year post-migration.
- Two groups: low HA (3600-4000m) and high HA (4000-4700m).
Main Results:
- All cardiac chambers decreased in size after 1 month and 1 year at HA, more significantly in the high HA group.
- Biventricular diastolic function decreased after 1 month; systolic function decreased after 1 year.
- Pulmonary artery dilation and increased systolic pressure, reduced inferior vena cava diameter, and decreased blood flow were observed with increased altitude and exposure time.
Conclusions:
- One year of HA migration is linked to reduced blood volume and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.
- These factors contribute to decreased cardiac chamber size and mild biventricular function decline.
- HA migration induces significant cardiac structural and functional adaptations.
Introduction:
The trend of human migration to terrestrial high altitudes (HA) has been increasing over the years. However, no published prospective studies exist with follow-up periods exceeding 1 month to investigate the cardiac change. This prospective study aimed to investigate the changes in cardiac structure and function in healthy young male lowlanders following long-term migration to HA.
Methods:
A total of 122 Chinese healthy young males were divided into 2 groups: those migrating to altitudes between 3600 m and 4000 m (low HA group, n = 65) and those migrating to altitudes between 4000 m and 4700 m (high HA group, n = 57). Traditional echocardiographic parameters were measured at sea level, 1 month and 1 year after migration to HA.
Results:
All 4 cardiac chamber dimensions, areas, and volumes decreased after both 1 month and 1 year of HA exposure. This reduction was more pronounced in the high HA group than in the low HA group. Bi-ventricular diastolic function decreased after 1 month of HA exposure, while systolic function decreased after 1 year. Notably, these functional changes were not significantly influenced by altitude differences. Dilation of the pulmonary artery and a progressive increase in pulmonary artery systolic pressure were observed with both increasing exposure time and altitude. Additionally, a decreased diameter of the inferior vena cava and reduced bicuspid and tricuspid blood flow velocity indicated reduced blood flow following migration to the HA.
Discussion:
1 year of migration to HA is associated with decreased blood volume and enhanced hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. These factors contribute to reduced cardiac chamber size and slight declines in bi-ventricular function.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:24Factors Affecting Respiration
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...