Table 3.
Echocardiographic variables of right ventricular function at low- and high altitude
| Low Alt | High Alt-7 h | High Alt-20 h | High Alt-44 h | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RV geometric parameters | ||||
| RVOT prox. dimension (mm) | 34.3 ± 5.3 | 36.5 ± 5.7*** | 37.2 ± 5.4*** | 37.0 ± 5.4*** |
| RV basal cavity dimension (mm) | 37.8 ± 5.5 | 39.5 ± 5.8 | 39.4 ± 4.8 | 38.6 ± 4.7 |
| RV mid cavity dimension (mm) | 31.0 ± 5.5 | 32.3 ± 5.4 | 31.8 ± 5.8 | 31.3 ± 5.3 |
| RV longitudinal dimension (mm) | 85.9 ± 9.6 | 86.7 ± 10.2 | 87.9 ± 10.6 | 87.8 ± 9.3 |
| RV end-diastolic area (cm2) | 21.8 ± 5.0 | 23.1 ± 5.8 | 22.2 ± 5.4 | 22.0 ± 5.5 |
| RV end-systolic area (cm2) | 10.8 ± 3.2 | 11.8 ± 3.5 | 11.4 ± 3.6 | 11.4 ± 3.9 |
| RV functional parameters | ||||
| TAPSE (mm) | 23.3 ± 3.7 | 25.0 ± 3.1 | 25.7 ± 2.7** | 25.1 ± 3.3 |
| FAC (%) | 50.8 ± 6.5 | 49.5 ± 6.5 | 48.9 ± 8.7 | 48.7 ± 8.4 |
| RV s′ (cm/s) | 12.9 ± 1.8 | 14.0 ± 2.0* | 14.1 ± 2.1* | 14.2 ± 1.8* |
| MPI | 0.40 ± 0.10 | 0.40 ± 0.14 | 0.40 ± 0.14 | 0.39 ± 0.11 |
| RV strain (%) | 25.4 ± 4.2 | 26.1 ± 4.2 | 26.1 ± 4.0 | 26.4 ± 4.4 |
| RA geometric parameters | ||||
| RAVImax (mL/m2) | 26.3 ± 7.4 | 31.5 ± 8.9** | 30.7 ± 8.9* | 28.3 ± 8.0 |
| RAmax volume (mL) | 50.4 ± 17.3 | 59.8 ± 20.8** | 59.0 ± 20.3* | 54.0 ± 18.3 |
| RApreA volume (mL) | 33.8 ± 12.5 | 40.2 ± 15.9** | 39.4 ± 14.3** | 35.4 ± 14.2 |
| RAmin volume (Ml) | 22.3 ± 8.7 | 22.7 ± 10.4 | 21.0 ± 8.4 | 19.7 ± 9.8* |
| RA functional parameters | ||||
| RA stroke volume (mL) | 27.6 ± 11.1 | 37.1 ± 12.7** | 37.2 ± 13.7*** | 34.0 ± 10.6** |
| RA reservoir strain (%) | 50.2 ± 12.1 | 53.8 ± 11.0 | 54.6 ± 12.8 | 54.6 ± 11.9 |
| RA conduit strain (%) | 31.0 ± 9.3 | 28.4 ± 9.5 | 30.1 ± 9.6 | 31.7 ± 10.3 |
| RA contraction strain (%) | 19.2 ± 6.4 | 25.3 ± 9.6*** | 24.7 ± 9.5** | 22.9 ± 7.7 |
Values are presented as arithmetic mean ± SD
RVOT right-ventricular outflow tract (from parasternal short axis view), RV right ventricle, TAPSE tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, FAC fractional area change, s′ pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging (DTI)-derived peak systolic myocardial velocity (averaged from basal septum and basal lateral wall), MPI myocardial performance index, RAVI right atrial volume indexed to body surface are, RA right atrium, Low alt low altitude (424 m), High alt high altitude (4559 m)
*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001 vs Low Alt