Change of heart function and its relationship with AMS during acute high-altitude exposure at 3 658 m in Chongqing soldiers

AIM: To observe the cardiac function during high-altitude exposure in Chongqing soldiers and to discuss its relationship with acute mountain sickness (AMS) by echocardiography. METHODS: The changes of heart function were evaluated during acute high-altitude exposure (3 658 m, 3 d) in 42 healthy young male soldiers by echocardiography. At the same time, the heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, and the incidence of AMS after high-altitude exposure were observed and recorded. RESULTS: Three days after arrival at 3 658 m, the left atrial end-systolic dimension (LADs), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVDd) and right atrial end-systolic dimension were significantly decreased, but the right ventricular outflow tract diameter, pulmonary artery dimension, ejection fraction, cardiac output (CO), pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure were significantly increased compared with the baseline levels in all subjects. The mitral peak E velocity was significantly reduced (P<0.05). A total of 42 healthy young men were recruited and divided into AMS group with 15 subjects and non-AMS group with 27 subjects by Lake Louise scoring after high-altitude exposure. The cardiac function in the plain showed that aortic sinus diameter and LVDd in AMS group were significantly smaller, and PASP was significantly higher than those in non-AMS group. After high-altitude exposure, the LADs in AMS group was significantly smaller than that in non-AMS group (P<0.05). AMS scores and CO in the plain showed significant negative correlation (r=-0.3814, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Upon acute high-altitude exposure, right ventricular functions of the young male soldiers are damaged with the compensation of the left ventricular functions. Using echocardiography to observe PASP and CO may be helpful for screening the susceptible people of AMS in the plain.