Effect of altitude and acetazolamide on postural control in healthy lowlanders 40 years of age or older. Randomized, placebo-controlled trial
Background: Hypoxia and old age impair postural control and may therefore enhance the risk of accidents. We investigated whether acetazolamide, the recommended drug for prevention of acute mountain sickness, may prevent altitude-induced deterioration of postural control in older persons.Methods: In...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1274111/full |
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| author | Tim Mutschler Michael Furian Michael Furian Michael Furian Mona Lichtblau Mona Lichtblau Mona Lichtblau Aline Buergin Aline Buergin Aline Buergin Simon R. Schneider Simon R. Schneider Simon R. Schneider Paula Appenzeller Paula Appenzeller Paula Appenzeller Laura Mayer Laura Mayer Laura Mayer Lara Muralt Lara Muralt Lara Muralt Maamed Mademilov Maamed Mademilov Maamed Mademilov Ainura Abdyraeva Ainura Abdyraeva Ainura Abdyraeva Shoira Aidaralieva Shoira Aidaralieva Shoira Aidaralieva Aibermet Muratbekova Aibermet Muratbekova Aibermet Muratbekova Azamat Akylbekov Azamat Akylbekov Azamat Akylbekov Saltanat Shabykeeva Saltanat Shabykeeva Saltanat Shabykeeva Talant M. Sooronbaev Talant M. Sooronbaev Talant M. Sooronbaev Silvia Ulrich Silvia Ulrich Silvia Ulrich Konrad E. Bloch Konrad E. Bloch Konrad E. Bloch |
| author_facet | Tim Mutschler Michael Furian Michael Furian Michael Furian Mona Lichtblau Mona Lichtblau Mona Lichtblau Aline Buergin Aline Buergin Aline Buergin Simon R. Schneider Simon R. Schneider Simon R. Schneider Paula Appenzeller Paula Appenzeller Paula Appenzeller Laura Mayer Laura Mayer Laura Mayer Lara Muralt Lara Muralt Lara Muralt Maamed Mademilov Maamed Mademilov Maamed Mademilov Ainura Abdyraeva Ainura Abdyraeva Ainura Abdyraeva Shoira Aidaralieva Shoira Aidaralieva Shoira Aidaralieva Aibermet Muratbekova Aibermet Muratbekova Aibermet Muratbekova Azamat Akylbekov Azamat Akylbekov Azamat Akylbekov Saltanat Shabykeeva Saltanat Shabykeeva Saltanat Shabykeeva Talant M. Sooronbaev Talant M. Sooronbaev Talant M. Sooronbaev Silvia Ulrich Silvia Ulrich Silvia Ulrich Konrad E. Bloch Konrad E. Bloch Konrad E. Bloch |
| author_sort | Tim Mutschler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Hypoxia and old age impair postural control and may therefore enhance the risk of accidents. We investigated whether acetazolamide, the recommended drug for prevention of acute mountain sickness, may prevent altitude-induced deterioration of postural control in older persons.Methods: In this parallel-design trial, 95 healthy volunteers, 40 years of age or older, living <1,000 m, were randomized to preventive therapy with acetazolamide (375 mg/d) or placebo starting 24 h before and during a 2-day sojourn at 3,100 m. Instability of postural control was quantified by a balance platform with the center of pressure path length (COPL) as primary outcome while pulse oximetry (SpO2) was monitored. Effects of altitude and treatment on COPL were evaluated by ordered logistic regression. www.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03536429.Results: In participants taking placebo, ascent from 760 m to 3,100 m increased median COPL from 25.8 cm to 27.6 cm (odds ratio 3.80, 95%CI 2.53–5.70) and decreased SpO2 from 96% to 91% (odds ratio 0.0003, 95%CI 0.0002–0.0007); in participants taking acetazolamide, altitude ascent increased COPL from 24.6 cm to 27.3 cm (odds ratio 2.22, 95%CI 1.57–3.13), while SpO2 decreased from 96% to 93% (odds ratio 0.007, 95%CI 0.004–0.012). Altitude-induced increases in COPL were smaller with acetazolamide vs. placebo (odds ratio 0.58, 95%CI 0.34–0.99) while drops in SpO2 were mitigated (odds ratio 19.2, 95%CI 9.9–37.6).Conclusion: In healthy individuals, 40 years of age or older, postural control was impaired after spending a night at 3,100 m. The altitude-induced deterioration of postural control was mitigated by acetazolamide, most likely due to the associated improvement in oxygenation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:05:52Z |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:05:52Z |
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| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5ddb17c1b0e6413e8e7ddc3692393f732024-01-04T04:52:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2024-01-011410.3389/fphys.2023.12741111274111Effect of altitude and acetazolamide on postural control in healthy lowlanders 40 years of age or older. Randomized, placebo-controlled trialTim Mutschler0Michael Furian1Michael Furian2Michael Furian3Mona Lichtblau4Mona Lichtblau5Mona Lichtblau6Aline Buergin7Aline Buergin8Aline Buergin9Simon R. Schneider10Simon R. Schneider11Simon R. Schneider12Paula Appenzeller13Paula Appenzeller14Paula Appenzeller15Laura Mayer16Laura Mayer17Laura Mayer18Lara Muralt19Lara Muralt20Lara Muralt21Maamed Mademilov22Maamed Mademilov23Maamed Mademilov24Ainura Abdyraeva25Ainura Abdyraeva26Ainura Abdyraeva27Shoira Aidaralieva28Shoira Aidaralieva29Shoira Aidaralieva30Aibermet Muratbekova31Aibermet Muratbekova32Aibermet Muratbekova33Azamat Akylbekov34Azamat Akylbekov35Azamat Akylbekov36Saltanat Shabykeeva37Saltanat Shabykeeva38Saltanat Shabykeeva39Talant M. Sooronbaev40Talant M. Sooronbaev41Talant M. Sooronbaev42Silvia Ulrich43Silvia Ulrich44Silvia Ulrich45Konrad E. Bloch46Konrad E. Bloch47Konrad E. Bloch48Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss-Kyrgyz High Altitude Medicine and Research Initiative, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanBackground: Hypoxia and old age impair postural control and may therefore enhance the risk of accidents. We investigated whether acetazolamide, the recommended drug for prevention of acute mountain sickness, may prevent altitude-induced deterioration of postural control in older persons.Methods: In this parallel-design trial, 95 healthy volunteers, 40 years of age or older, living <1,000 m, were randomized to preventive therapy with acetazolamide (375 mg/d) or placebo starting 24 h before and during a 2-day sojourn at 3,100 m. Instability of postural control was quantified by a balance platform with the center of pressure path length (COPL) as primary outcome while pulse oximetry (SpO2) was monitored. Effects of altitude and treatment on COPL were evaluated by ordered logistic regression. www.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03536429.Results: In participants taking placebo, ascent from 760 m to 3,100 m increased median COPL from 25.8 cm to 27.6 cm (odds ratio 3.80, 95%CI 2.53–5.70) and decreased SpO2 from 96% to 91% (odds ratio 0.0003, 95%CI 0.0002–0.0007); in participants taking acetazolamide, altitude ascent increased COPL from 24.6 cm to 27.3 cm (odds ratio 2.22, 95%CI 1.57–3.13), while SpO2 decreased from 96% to 93% (odds ratio 0.007, 95%CI 0.004–0.012). Altitude-induced increases in COPL were smaller with acetazolamide vs. placebo (odds ratio 0.58, 95%CI 0.34–0.99) while drops in SpO2 were mitigated (odds ratio 19.2, 95%CI 9.9–37.6).Conclusion: In healthy individuals, 40 years of age or older, postural control was impaired after spending a night at 3,100 m. The altitude-induced deterioration of postural control was mitigated by acetazolamide, most likely due to the associated improvement in oxygenation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1274111/fullaltitude (MeSH)hypoxiapostural controlagealtitude-related adverse health effectsaltitude illness |
| spellingShingle | Tim Mutschler Michael Furian Michael Furian Michael Furian Mona Lichtblau Mona Lichtblau Mona Lichtblau Aline Buergin Aline Buergin Aline Buergin Simon R. Schneider Simon R. Schneider Simon R. Schneider Paula Appenzeller Paula Appenzeller Paula Appenzeller Laura Mayer Laura Mayer Laura Mayer Lara Muralt Lara Muralt Lara Muralt Maamed Mademilov Maamed Mademilov Maamed Mademilov Ainura Abdyraeva Ainura Abdyraeva Ainura Abdyraeva Shoira Aidaralieva Shoira Aidaralieva Shoira Aidaralieva Aibermet Muratbekova Aibermet Muratbekova Aibermet Muratbekova Azamat Akylbekov Azamat Akylbekov Azamat Akylbekov Saltanat Shabykeeva Saltanat Shabykeeva Saltanat Shabykeeva Talant M. Sooronbaev Talant M. Sooronbaev Talant M. Sooronbaev Silvia Ulrich Silvia Ulrich Silvia Ulrich Konrad E. Bloch Konrad E. Bloch Konrad E. Bloch Effect of altitude and acetazolamide on postural control in healthy lowlanders 40 years of age or older. Randomized, placebo-controlled trial Frontiers in Physiology altitude (MeSH) hypoxia postural control age altitude-related adverse health effects altitude illness |
| title | Effect of altitude and acetazolamide on postural control in healthy lowlanders 40 years of age or older. Randomized, placebo-controlled trial |
| title_full | Effect of altitude and acetazolamide on postural control in healthy lowlanders 40 years of age or older. Randomized, placebo-controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Effect of altitude and acetazolamide on postural control in healthy lowlanders 40 years of age or older. Randomized, placebo-controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of altitude and acetazolamide on postural control in healthy lowlanders 40 years of age or older. Randomized, placebo-controlled trial |
| title_short | Effect of altitude and acetazolamide on postural control in healthy lowlanders 40 years of age or older. Randomized, placebo-controlled trial |
| title_sort | effect of altitude and acetazolamide on postural control in healthy lowlanders 40 years of age or older randomized placebo controlled trial |
| topic | altitude (MeSH) hypoxia postural control age altitude-related adverse health effects altitude illness |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1274111/full |
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