Stroke and Infarction at High Altitude

Globally, at least 5.7% of the population lives above 1,500 meters, nevertheless, the association between high-altitude exposure and stroke has been poorly studied. The available literature is based mainly on case reports due to acute exposure to extreme altitudes, rather than longer-term living among high-altitude dwellers. The few reports available suggest that living in high-altitude regions (>2,500 m) increases the risk of developing thrombosis through hypoxia driven polycythaemia which creates a hypercoagulable state, conditions that have been associated with the development of atherothrombotic stroke.

Although most of the information comes from case or case-series reports, no cohorts’ studies have been published in this area. The only available information came from very few cross-sectional analysis that has found a significant association between living in high-altitude regions and having greater risk of developing stroke, especially among younger populations. To further explore this relationship, we have conducted a literature review of the available information in terms of high-altitude exposure and the development of stroke. Additionally, ecological analysis of the stroke data from one of the very few countries in the world having more than 200 locations at different altitudes (0 to 4,000 m) was performed.

The problem around the scarce literature is to confirm the role of acute hypoxia exposure as a risk factor for the development of stroke, but also to identify if chronic (> 28 days) hypobaric hypoxia is linked to a reduced risk for developing stroke.

We are interested in original research, literature reviews or shorts communications within the field of high altitude exposure the risk of developing stroke or cardiovascular diseases at high altitude, including risk factors analysis and physiological related topics.