Sleep, Breathing and Psychomotor Performance at Altitude: A Physiologic Study in Healthy Subjects

This study investigates the effect of altitude exposure on sleep, breathing and psychomotor performance in healthy subjects.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy Men
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: altitude exposure

Detailed Description

Sleep is essential for well being and performance. Sleep disturbances by recurrent apnea and hypoxia in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome impair quality of life, cognitive and cardiovascular functions. Similar consequences occur in healthy subjects exposed to hypoxia at altitude due to periodic breathing with recurrent central apnea. This project will investigate effects of altitude on sleep, breathing, psychomotor performance and on the cardiovascular system in healthy subjects and patients with sleep apnea. The results will help to better understand mechanisms of sleep disturbances and psychomotor impairment induced by hypoxia and to prevent adverse effects of altitude exposure.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 51
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Switzerland
  • Zurich, Switzerland, CH-8091
    • University Hospital of Zurich, Pulmonary Division

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• healthy men
• residence at <800m

Exclusion Criteria:

• any active disease requiring treatment
• requirement for regular use of medication
• smoking, regular intake of alcohol or drugs
• body mass index <18 or >30 kg/m2
• previous intolerance of moderate altitude (<3000m)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Single

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
apnea/hypopnea index		day 1-4 at altitude
Reaction time	psychomotor vigilance test reaction time	day 1-4 at altitude

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Psychomotor vigilance	performance in the Motor Task Manager test	day 1-4 at altitude
sleep quality	percent of slow wave sleep, araousal index	day 1-4 at altitude
arterial applanation tonometry	endothelial function and arterial stiffness	day 1-4 at altitude

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Zurich
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Konrad E Bloch, Prof. MD, University Hospital Zurich, Pulmonary Division

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Latshang TD, Lo Cascio CM, Stowhas AC, Grimm M, Stadelmann K, Tesler N, Achermann P, Huber R, Kohler M, Bloch KE. Are nocturnal breathing, sleep, and cognitive performance impaired at moderate altitude (1,630-2,590 m)? Sleep. 2013 Dec 1;36(12):1969-76. doi: 10.5665/sleep.3242.
• Stadelmann K, Latshang TD, Tarokh L, Lo Cascio CM, Tesler N, Stoewhas AC, Kohler M, Bloch KE, Huber R, Achermann P. Sleep respiratory disturbances and arousals at moderate altitude have overlapping electroencephalogram spectral signatures. J Sleep Res. 2014 Aug;23(4):463-8. doi: 10.1111/jsr.12131. Epub 2014 Feb 19.
• Ayers L, Stoewhas AC, Ferry B, Latshang TD, Lo Cascio CM, Sadler R, Stadelmann K, Tesler N, Huber R, Achermann P, Bloch KE, Kohler M. Circulating levels of cell-derived microparticles are reduced by mild hypobaric hypoxia: data from a randomised controlled trial. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2014 May;114(5):1067-73. doi: 10.1007/s00421-014-2837-6. Epub 2014 Feb 11.
• Stadelmann K, Latshang TD, Lo Cascio CM, Tesler N, Stoewhas AC, Kohler M, Bloch KE, Huber R, Achermann P. Quantitative changes in the sleep EEG at moderate altitude (1630 m and 2590 m). PLoS One. 2013 Oct 22;8(10):e76945. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076945. eCollection 2013.
• Stowhas AC, Latshang TD, Lo Cascio CM, Lautwein S, Stadelmann K, Tesler N, Ayers L, Berneis K, Gerber PA, Huber R, Achermann P, Bloch KE, Kohler M. Effects of acute exposure to moderate altitude on vascular function, metabolism and systemic inflammation. PLoS One. 2013 Aug 1;8(8):e70081. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070081. Print 2013.
• Stadelmann K, Latshang TD, Lo Cascio CM, Clark RA, Huber R, Kohler M, Achermann P, Bloch KE. Impaired postural control in healthy men at moderate altitude (1630 m and 2590 m): data from a randomized trial. PLoS One. 2015 Feb 27;10(2):e0116695. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116695. eCollection 2015.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2010
• Study Completion (Actual): October 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 25, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 25, 2010
• First Posted (Estimate): May 26, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 20, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 18, 2014
• Last Verified: May 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: altitude; sleep; hypoxia; sleep apnea; endothelial function; vigilance; psychomotor; periodic breathing
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Aspiration
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2010-0054/1