S W Ma1, M Shen, G B Xia. 1. Energy Saving and Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety and Health Institute, China Academy of railway Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
Abstract
Objective: To analyze the heart rate changes and risk factors, as a result of high altitude. Methods: Retrospective analysis of echocardiographic data of plateau workers at a railway maintenance company from 2006 to 2013. The survival curve method was used to analyze the abnormal rate of the heart. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to analyze the influencing factors. Results: In the first occurrence of cardiac abnormalities, the main types of abnormalities were right atrium enlargement (53.47%) , right ventricle enlargement (17.36%) , and tricuspid regurgitation (16.67%) . Cox regression analysis showed that workplace altitude and first physical examination age are two influencing factors of cardiac abnormalities, and their relative risk was 1.661 and 1.039. At high altitudes (3 600~4 000 m) , nearly 40% of workers heart has not changed. But this adaptation does not observed in the ultra-high altitudes (≥4 000 m) . Conclusion: There are individual differences in human adaptability to high altitude. We should take more stringent measures of health care for older people and those who work at more than 4000m. And we should abide by the rotation system for railways that are suitable for the plateau.
Objective: To analyze the heart rate changes and risk factors, as a result of high altitude. Methods: Retrospective analysis of echocardiographic data of plateau workers at a railway maintenance company from 2006 to 2013. The survival curve method was used to analyze the abnormal rate of the heart. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to analyze the influencing factors. Results: In the first occurrence of cardiac abnormalities, the main types of abnormalities were right atrium enlargement (53.47%) , right ventricle enlargement (17.36%) , and tricuspid regurgitation (16.67%) . Cox regression analysis showed that workplace altitude and first physical examination age are two influencing factors of cardiac abnormalities, and their relative risk was 1.661 and 1.039. At high altitudes (3 600~4 000 m) , nearly 40% of workers heart has not changed. But this adaptation does not observed in the ultra-high altitudes (≥4 000 m) . Conclusion: There are individual differences in human adaptability to high altitude. We should take more stringent measures of health care for older people and those who work at more than 4000m. And we should abide by the rotation system for railways that are suitable for the plateau.