A change of heart: Mechanisms of cardiac adaptation to acute and chronic hypoxia
Key result
The human heart successfully adapts to acute and chronic hypoxia without signs of myocardial dysfunction in healthy humans, except in very rare cases of maladaptation.
Design
Review
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
Confirms successful cardiac adaptation to hypoxia without dysfunction in healthy humans; leaves open mechanisms of maladaptation and sex differences.
Structured PICO
P
Population
Healthy humans exposed to acute, prolonged, and lifelong hypoxia (including lowlanders and high-altitude natives such as Sherpa in Asia)
E
Exposure
Acute and chronic hypoxia exposure (high altitude)
O
Outcome
Cardiac adaptation mechanisms (including changes in cardiac output, heart rate, ventricular volumes, and stroke volume)
The human heart demonstrates robust adaptive mechanisms to acute and chronic hypoxia, preserving biventricular function without myocardial dysfunction in healthy individuals.
Limitations
- Various areas of investigation remain understudied, including potential sex-related differences in response to high altitude.
- potential sex-related differences in response to high altitude remain understudied
Cite This Study
Williams et al. (2022) conducted a review in Hypoxia / High-altitude exposure. Hypoxia (acute, prolonged, and lifelong) vs. Normoxia / Lowlanders was evaluated. The human heart successfully adapts to acute and chronic hypoxia without signs of myocardial dysfunction in healthy humans, except in very rare cases of maladaptation.