OBJECTIVETo detect the changes of cardiovascular system at different altitudes, so as to prevent and predict the susceptibility to acute mountain sickness.

METHODSThe test was performed with noninvasive cardiovascular monitor and electrocardiogram in healthy male Chinese members of the 25th and 26th expeditions to the antarctic kunlun station at different altitudes (40 m, 3 650 m and 4 300 m).

RESULTSCompared with 40 m, from 3 650 m to 4 300 m, heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) significantly increased (P < 0.05); cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), stroke volume (SV), stroke index (SI), velocity index (VI), acceleration index (ACI), left ventricular ejection time (LVET) significantly decreased (P < 0.05) and pre-ejection period(PEP) decreased with no significance (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSVR significantly increased but contractile and blood-pumping function of left ventricular decreased inversely associated with the Q-Tc interval, as the altitude is increasing.