How Low Oxygen at Simulated Altitude Affects the Heart in People With Asthma
Tests how simulated altitude affects the right side of the heart in asthma.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Effect of Acute Hypoxia on RIght VEntRicular Function in Asthma.
Key facts
- Where
- Zurich, SwitzerlandSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 80 years old?
Source: NCT07431580, who can take part
Where in Switzerland
- Consultant Clinic of Pulmonology, University Hospital of ZurichZurich, SwitzerlandTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Mona Lichtblau
- Trial code
- NCT07431580
- Record updated
- 29 May 2026
- Original description
More and more people are engaging in sports in the mountains, including individuals with heart or lung diseases. At the same time, such diseases are becoming more common in Switzerland. At high altitude, less oxygen is available, which places stress on the body-particularly on the heart, which has to pump blood through the lungs. How the heart, especially the right ventricle, in people with asthma responds to this stress is still not well understood.Read full original descriptionShow less
Effect of Acute Hypoxia on RIght VEntRicular Function. A Single-Center, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Cross-Over Trial.
More and more people are engaging in sports in the mountains, including individuals with heart or lung diseases. At the same time, such diseases are becoming more common in Switzerland. At high altitude, less oxygen is available, which places stress on the body-particularly on the heart, which has to pump blood through the lungs. How the heart, especially the right ventricle, in people with asthma responds to this stress is still not well understood.
Therefore, this study investigates how the heart responds to simulated altitudes of 2,500 m and 4,000 m, both at rest and during light physical activity in patients with asthma. The primary objective is to assess how right ventricular function changes under conditions of reduced oxygen availability.
In addition, vital signs, changes in blood gases, oxygen levels in blood and tissue and shortness of breath are assessed. The "altitude" is simulated using a special gas mixture that participants inhale. Participants undergo three altitude conditions (490, 2,500, and 4,000 m above sea level). The order of the altitude conditions is assigned at random.
The aim is to better understand how the right ventricle and other parameters respond to low-oxygen conditions and how affected patients can be better supported in the future.
Inclusion: Signed informed consent; Diagnosed and well controlled asthma bronchiale; 18-80 years (age group young: 18-39.99 years / age group older: 40-80 years); All sex and genders; Living <800m and without altitude exposure > 2500 m and > 24h within the last three weeks.
Exclusion: Other clinically significant severe concomitant disease states (e.g. renal, hepatic dysfunction, etc.); Any other diagnosed cardiopulmonary condition including past HAPE; Inability to follow the procedures of the study due to language problems, psychological neurological disorders or orthopaedic disorders; <18, >80 years old; Participants permanently living >800m and altitude exposure > 2500 m and >24h within the last three weeks; Pregnancy: Participants will be asked if pregnant or not, no screening for undetected pregnancy; Lactating women; Participation in other study with active treatment.