Heart rate variability and electrocardiographic parameters among workers exposed to chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia in the Peruvian Andes: A cross-sectional study Cardiac autonomic function in Andean workers
- 1Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa
Abstract
Chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia is an occupational exposure experienced by workers who alternate between high-altitude worksites and lower-altitude resting locations. Its effects on cardiac autonomic modulation and electrocardiographic parameters remain insufficiently characterized in Andean workers. This study aimed to compare heart rate variability and electrocardiographic parameters between workers exposed to chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia and controls working permanently at lower altitude in Arequipa, Peru.
An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in 96 male workers aged 20-60 years. The exposed group included 53 workers performing rotational shifts at altitudes [≥]3,000 m above sea level with rest periods at <2,500 m, while the control group included 43 workers working permanently at <2,500 m. Heart rate variability was assessed during the morning rest period in Arequipa, at approximately 2,300 m above sea level, using a Polar(R) H10 heart rate sensor after 15 minutes of rest. Participants also underwent standard 12-lead electrocardiography.
Vital signs were clinically similar between groups. No statistically significant differences were observed in PR interval, corrected QT interval, time-domain heart rate variability parameters, or frequency-domain heart rate variability parameters.
In this sample of apparently healthy male workers evaluated during their rest period at moderate altitude, exposure to chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia was not associated with significant differences in resting heart rate variability or standard electrocardiographic parameters.
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BibTeX
@misc{montesmadariaga2026heart,
title = {{Heart rate variability and electrocardiographic parameters among workers exposed to chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia in the Peruvian Andes: A cross-sectional study Cardiac autonomic function in Andean workers}},
author = {E. S. Montes-Madariaga and J. B. Ortiz-Saavedra and J. S. Mamani Castillo and A. I. Valencia-Pacheco and J. A. Ballon Echegaray and I. L. Paz Torres and R. A. J. Leon Vasquez},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.15.26365599},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.15.26365599v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Heart rate variability and electrocardiographic parameters among workers exposed to chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia in the Peruvian Andes: A cross-sectional study Cardiac autonomic function in Andean workers
AU - E. S. Montes-Madariaga
AU - J. B. Ortiz-Saavedra
AU - J. S. Mamani Castillo
AU - A. I. Valencia-Pacheco
AU - J. A. Ballon Echegaray
AU - I. L. Paz Torres
AU - R. A. J. Leon Vasquez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/15
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.15.26365599
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.15.26365599v1
AB - Chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia is an occupational exposure experienced by workers who alternate between high-altitude worksites and lower-altitude resting locations. Its effects on cardiac autonomic modulation and electrocardiographic parameters remain insufficiently characterized in Andean workers. This study aimed to compare heart rate variability and electrocardiographic parameters between workers exposed to chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia and controls working permanently at lower altitude in Arequipa, Peru. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in 96 male workers aged 20-60 years. The exposed group included 53 workers performing rotational shifts at altitudes [≥]3,000 m above sea level with rest periods at <2,500 m, while the control group included 43 workers working permanently at <2,500 m. Heart rate variability was assessed during the morning rest period in Arequipa, at approximately 2,300 m above sea level, using a Polar(R) H10 heart rate sensor after 15 minutes of rest. Participants also underwent standard 12-lead electrocardiography. Vital signs were clinically similar between groups. No statistically significant differences were observed in PR interval, corrected QT interval, time-domain heart rate variability parameters, or frequency-domain heart rate variability parameters. In this sample of apparently healthy male workers evaluated during their rest period at moderate altitude, exposure to chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia was not associated with significant differences in resting heart rate variability or standard electrocardiographic parameters.
ER -