Alveolar PCO2 and PO2 of high-altitude natives living at sea level

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 81; no. 4; pp. 1605 - 1609
• Main Authors: Leon-Velarde, Fabiola, Vargas, Manuel, Monge-C., Carlos, Torrance, Robert W, Robbins, Peter A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Am Physiological Soc 01.10.1996; American Physiological Society
• Subjects: Acclimatization - physiology; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Altitude; Applied physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon Dioxide - metabolism; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Respiratory Function Tests; Transports. Aerospace. Diving. Altitude; Human; High altitude; Ethnic origin; Partial pressure; Carbon dioxide; Environmental factor; Respiration; Respiratory control; Sea level; Chemoreceptor; Adaptation
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1996.81.4.1605

Fabiola León-Velarde, Manuel Vargas, Carlos Monge-C., Robert W. Torrance, and Peter A. Robbins Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Instituto de Investigaciones de la Altura, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 100, Peru; and University Laboratory of Physiology, Oxford OX1 3PT, United Kingdom Received 3 October 1995; accepted in final form 21 May 1996. León-Velarde, Fabiola, Manuel Vargas, Carlos Monge-C., Robert W. Torrance, and Peter A. Robbins. Alveolar P CO 2 and P O 2 of high-altitude natives living at sea level. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(4): 1605-1609, 1996. This study was designed to determine whether subjects born at high altitude (HA; 2,000 m or above) who subsequently move to near sea level (SL) develop end-tidal P CO 2 (P ET CO 2 ) and P O 2 (P ET O 2 ) values that equal those of SL natives living near SL. A total of 108 male HA natives living near SL were identified by survey of a district in Lima, Peru, and a further 108 male SL natives from the same district were identified as control subjects. Of these subjects, satisfactory data for inclusion in the study were obtained from 93 HA and 82 SL subjects. Mean P ET CO 2 and P ET O 2 values were 37.7 ± 2.5 (SD) and 104.7 ± 3.2 Torr, respectively, in HA subjects and 37.7 ± 2.2 and 104.8 ± 3.0 Torr, respectively, in SL subjects. The average difference between SL natives and HA natives for P ET CO 2 was 0.07 Torr ( 0.64 to 0.78; 95% confidence interval) and for P ET O 2 was 0.05 Torr ( 0.89 to 0.99, 95% confidence interval). The average age and weight of the SL and HA subjects did not differ, but the HA subjects were shorter and tended to have larger vital capacities, consistent with their origin at HA. We conclude that the P ET CO 2 and P ET O 2 near SL of SL natives and HA natives do not differ. partial pressure of carbon dioxide; partial pressure of oxygen; end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide; control of breathing; peripheral chemoreceptors; Andean; ventilation 0161-7567/96 $5.00 Copyright © 1996 the American Physiological Society