Effect of Alcohol on Acute Ventilatory Adaptation to Mild Hypoxia at Moderate Altitude

15 June 1995 | Volume 122 Issue 12 | Pages 925-927

Objective: To evaluate the influence of alcohol on acute adaptation to mild hypoxia at moderate altitude.

Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial.

Setting: University clinic and mountaineering resort at altitudes of 171 m and 3000 m, respectively, in the Austrian Alps.

Participants: 10 healthy male alpinists, 22 to 24 years of age.

Intervention: Single dose of 50 g of alcohol or placebo at altitudes of 171 m and 3000 m.

Main Outcome Measures: Arterial oxygen pressure (PaO₂) and arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO₂) before and 1 hour after consumption of alcohol or placebo.

Results: At an altitude of 171 m, 50 g of alcohol caused no statistical change in PaO₂ and PaCO₂ (median PaO₂, 91.5 compared with 90.5 mm Hg [P = 0.89]; median PaCO₂, 37.5 compared with 36.0 mm Hg [P = 0.41]). At an altitude of 3000 m, the median PaO₂ decreased from 69.0 to 64.0 mm Hg, a median decrease in the paired difference of 4.0 mm Hg (95.1% CI, 1.5 to 6.5 mm Hg; P < 0.01), and the median PaCO₂ increased from 32.5 to 34.0 mm Hg, a median increase in the paired difference of 3.0 mm Hg (95.1% CI, 2.0 to 4.0 mm Hg; P < 0.01) 1 hour after drinking 50 g of alcohol. Placebo did not influence PaO₂ or PaCO₂ at either altitude.

Conclusion: Alcohol inhibits the initial stages of adequate acute ventilatory adaptation to mild hypoxia at moderate altitude. Caution in the use of alcoholic beverages at moderate altitude is therefore necessary.

Author and Article Information

From the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Requests for Reprints: Georg Roeggla, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, Vienna, Austria.