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Related Experiment Videos

How well do older persons tolerate moderate altitude?

R C Roach1, C S Houston, B Honigman

  • 1Lovelace Institute for Basic and Applied Medical Research, Albuquerque 87108.

The Western Journal of Medicine
|January 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

Older adults can safely visit moderate altitudes, even with pre-existing cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions. This study found a low incidence of acute mountain sickness in elderly individuals at 2,500m.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Altitude Medicine
  • Cardiopulmonary Physiology

Background:

  • Moderate altitude exposure presents potential risks for older adults.
  • Prevalence of chronic conditions like coronary artery disease, hypertension, and lung disease is common in the elderly population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the physiological and clinical responses of older adults to moderate altitude exposure.
  • To assess the safety of moderate altitude environments for elderly individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Study involved 97 men and women aged 59-83 years over 5 days in Vail, Colorado (2,500m).
  • Monitored for acute mountain sickness, arterial oxygen saturation, spirometry, and blood pressure.
  • Documented presence of chronic diseases within the cohort.

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Main Results:

  • 16% incidence of acute mountain sickness, lower than in younger populations.
  • Occurrence of acute mountain sickness symptoms did not correlate with physiological measurements.
  • No adverse events were observed in subjects despite the presence of chronic diseases.

Conclusions:

  • Older adults, including those with generally asymptomatic cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, can safely tolerate moderate altitudes.
  • Moderate altitude environments appear safe for elderly travelers with common chronic health conditions.