Adaptation to Life in the High Andes: Nocturnal Oxyhemoglobin Saturation in Early Development

Conclusions:Physiological adaptation to high-altitude living in native Andeans is unlikely to compensate for the significant differences we observed between diurnal and nocturnal oxyhemoglobin saturation, most marked in infancy. This vulnerability to sleep-related hypoxia in early childhood has potential lifespan implications. Future studies should characterize the sleep- related respiratory physiology underpinning our observations.Citation:Hill CM, Baya A, Gavlak J, Carroll A, Heathcote K, Dimitriou D, L'Esperance V, Webster R, Holloway J, Virues-Ortega J, Kirkham FJ, Bucks RS, Hogan AM. Adaptation to life in the high andes: nocturnal oxyhemoglobin saturation in early development. SLEEP 2016;39(5):1001–1008.
Source: Sleep - Category: Sleep Medicine Source Type: research