Effects of Intermittent Hypobaric Hypoxia on Blood Lipid Concentrations in Male Coronary Heart Disease Patients

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (IHH) on plasma lipid concentrations of male coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. Forty-six male coronary patients were enrolled in the study. Thirty had a history of myocardial infarction and 16 had ischemic episodes documented by ergometer testing or Holter monitoring. The patients underwent acclimation to hypoxia by means of a protocol of intermittent exposure in a hypobaric chamber. Lipid profiles, including coefficient of atherogenity (CA) by A.N. Klimov, were assessed at baseline, on completion of the study, and at 3-, 6-, and 10-month follow-ups. Total cholesterol decreased by 7% on completion of the IHH and by 9% at 3 months and persisted on that level to month 6. HDL levels increased by 12% at 3-month follow-up and remained significantly higher than baseline until month 6. LDL levels declined on completion of IHH, but the changes from baseline were most prominent at 3-month (13%) and 6-month (11%) follow-ups. Similar changes were found in levels of VLDL and TG. CA declined by 26% on treatment completion and by 37% at 3-month follow-up and increased to baseline at 10 months. No changes in lipid profiles were found in patients with CA < 3 (n = 22). In subjects with CA > 3 (n = 24), beneficial effects were more pronounced. IHH in CHD patients with abnormal lipid metabolism leads to favorable changes of plasma lipid patterns persisting to month 6 following IHH.