Periodic breathing at high altitude and ventilatory responses to O2 and CO2

To determine the relationship between periodic breathing (PB) during sleep at high altitude and ventilatory chemosensitivities, we studied nine Japanese climbers who participated in the expedition to the Kunlun Mountains (7,167 m) in China in 1986. At sea level, ventilatory response to hypoxia (HVR) by isocapnic progressive hypoxia test and to hypercapnia (HCVR) by Read's method were examined. At altitude 5,360 m, respiratory movements of the chest and abdominal wall, SaO2, ECG, and HR were monitored. Seven climbers manifested PB during sleep. There was a significant correlation between PB during sleep and HVR and HCVR (p less than 0.05). All the climbers showed severe desaturation during sleep. There was a significant negative correlation between degree of desaturation during sleep and HVR (p less than 0.05). A negative correlation was also detected between PB and the degree of desaturation during sleep. We concluded that ventilatory chemosensitivities play an important role in eliciting PB and that climbers with high HVR can maintain their arterial oxygenation during sleep, due to hyperventilation induced by PB, which is considered an advantageous adaptation for lowland sojourners.