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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04739904

Hypoxia Intolerance in Preterm Individuals

Reduced Hypoxic Ventilatory Response (HVR) and systemic O2 saturation subsequently leading to blunted aerobic capacity as well as decreased overall physical and cognitive performance are the main physiological challenges faced by prematurely born individuals in hypobaric hypoxia (i.e. during high altitude sojourn). While these phenomena have been described previously, the underlying mechanisms are currently unresolved. Given that the reduction in altitude-performance and its underlying mechanisms are not well understood, it is currently impossible to give evidence-based recommendation for altitude sojourns in this cohort. It is also of note, that even hypobaric hypoxia exposure during long-haul flights might be detrimental to well-being of pre-term born individuals.

The present project aims to comprehensively investigate physiological responses to altitude/hypoxia during rest and exercise in prematurely born, but otherwise healthy adults. Specifically, the investigators aim to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the altered resting and exercise cardiovascular, respiratory, cerebral and hematological responses to hypoxia in prematurely born individuals. The obtained results from this cohort will be compared to the data from a control groups consisting of healthy, age and aerobic capacity-matched individuals born at full-term. While acute hypoxic effects will be the focus of the project's first phase, the researchers will test the effect of prolonged terrestrial (real) or simulated (normobaric hypoxia) altitude exposures in the second part. This phase will, in addition to the insight into the prolonged altitude acclimatization modulation in prematurely born individuals, also enable the potential differences between the effects of normobaric (simulated) and hypobaric (terrestrial) hypoxia in this cohort to be investigated.

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Key information

Conditions

Premature Birth Behavior Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Hypoxia Motor Activity Obstetric Labor Complications Obstetric Labor, Premature Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Pregnancy Complications Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory Urogenital Diseases

Age range

18 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • prematurely born (gestational age: ≤ 32 weeks; gestational weight ≤ 1500g)
  • full-term born
  • healthy individuals
  • male

Exclusion criteria

  • presence of any medical risk factors to exercise and/or exposure to altitude
  • presence of any medical condition that would make the protocol unreasonably hazardous for the patient
  • smokers
  • exposure to altitude above 1000m in the last 2 months

Treatment and study plan

Normoxia

Other

48 hours experimental protocol conducted at sea level

Other names: Normoxic condition, Sea level

Normobaric Hypoxia

Other

24 hours experimental protocol conducted in a normobaric hypoxic facility

Other names: Simulated altitude

Hypobaric Hypoxia

Other

72 hours experimental protocol conducted at terrestrial altitude

Other names: Terrestrial altitude

Primary outcomes

  1. Cerebrovascular reactivity to carbon dioxide (CO2)

    Time frame: 48 hours after exposure to normoxia and hypobaric hypoxia, respectively.

    Subjects will breath 4 min 3% CO2 and 4 min 6% CO2 separated by 4 min of breathing ambient air. Gas exchange, blood flow in the middle cerebral artery and peripheral oxygen saturation will be continuously recorded by metabolic cart, transcranial doppler, and finger pulse oximeter, respectively.

  2. Cognitive function

    Time frame: 24 hours after exposure to normoxia, hypobaric hypoxia, and normobaric hypoxia, respectively

    Cognitive function will be assessed by a computerized psychometric test battery previously used by our research group. These will assess working memory and visuo-motor coordination.

  3. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)

    Time frame: 8 hours (prior to sleep) and 16 hours (upon waking) after exposure to hypobaric and normobaric hypoxia

    AMS will be assessed by Lake Louise scale. AMS will be diagnosed if the Lake Louise score is 3 or higher.

  4. Change in respiratory function

    Time frame: Immediately after exposure to hypobaric and normobaric hypoxia, relative to baseline.

    Respiratory function will be assessed by spirometry.

  5. Lung comets

    Time frame: Every day before and immediately after each exercise bout.

    Lung comets will be assessed by counting the number of B-lines present, which will be measured using Doppler ultrasound.

  6. Heart rate response to exercise

    Time frame: Every day before exercise, during exercise and at the instant of volitional exhaustion.

    Heart rate (HR, bpm) will be continuously monitored during different exercise bouts of variety intensities (moderate and heavy intensities will be used).

  7. Respiratory response to exercise

    Time frame: Every day before exercise, during exercise and at the instant of volitional exhaustion.

    Oxygen consumption (VO2, L/min and mL/min/kg) will be continuously monitored during different exercise bouts of variety intensities (moderate and heavy intensities will be used).

  8. Changes in muscular oxygenation during exercise

    Time frame: Every day before exercise, during exercise and at the instant of volitional exhaustion.

    Muscle oxygenation/deoxygenation will be continuously recorded during each exercise bout by Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy (NIRS) placed on the vastus lateralis. NIRS measure the quantity of oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin and myoglobin (microM) in the investigated areas (vastus lateralis).

  9. Changes in cerebral oxygenation during exercise

    Time frame: Every day before exercise, during exercise and at the instant of volitional exhaustion.

    Brain oxygenation/deoxygenation will be continuously recorded during each exercise bout by Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy (NIRS) placed at the frontal levels. NIRS measure the quantity of oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin (microM) in the investigated areas (prefrontal cortex).

  10. Changes in the rate of muscular oxygen consumption (mV̇O2)

    Time frame: Before each exercise bouts.

    Muscle oxygen consumption will be assessed using a previously validated protocol. Briefly, a Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy (NIRS) optode will be placed on the vastus lateralis muscle. Before the protocol, an ischemic calibration will be performed to normalize the NIRS signals by inflating the blood pressure cuff to 250-300 mmHg for a maximum of 5 min. Resting mV̇O2 will be assessed from the decrease in muscle oxygenation which accompanies the arterial occlusion. Four resting measurements will be performed using 10 sec of arterial occlusion. Then, each subject will perform a voluntary knee extension exercise for 15 sec. To measure the recovery of oxygen consumption after exercise, subject will have a series of arterial occlusion as follows: 5 occlusions 5sec on-5sec off, 5 occlusions 5sec on-5sec off, and 8 occlusions 10 sec on-20 sec off.

  11. Acute change in sleep quality

    Time frame: On the first night in normoxia, normobaric hypoxia and hypobaric hypoxia.

    Polysomnography will be used to assess sleep quality. Measurements will include electroencephalography (EEG), electrooculography (EOG), chin and tibial surface electromyography (EMG), electrocardiography (ECG), nasal pressure (nasal pressure cannula), respiratory movements (chest and abdominal belts) as well as capillary oxygenated haemoglobin saturation measurement.

  12. Change in sleep quality after prolonged exposure to hypobaric hypoxia

    Time frame: On the third night after exposure to terrestrial altitude.

    Polysomnography will be used to assess sleep quality. Measurements will include electroencephalography (EEG), electrooculography (EOG), chin and tibial surface electromyography (EMG), electrocardiography (ECG), nasal pressure (nasal pressure cannula), respiratory movements (chest and abdominal belts) as well as capillary oxygenated haemoglobin saturation measurement.

  13. Changes in endothelial capacity to flow-mediated dilation (FMD)

    Time frame: 24 hours after exposure to normoxia and hypobaric hypoxia.

    A pneumatic cuff is positioned distal to the ultrasound probe in order to avoid ischemia of the artery studied. Radial artery diameter is measured at rest, during inflation of the distal cuff to suprasystolic pressure (5 min) and for the 5 min following deflation. The subsequent decrease in local blood flow in response to ischemia causes a progressive decrease in the radial artery diameter until a plateau (L-FMC). Upon cuff deflation, the increased blood flow causes radial artery dilatation. L-FMC is calculated as the percentage decrease in arterial diameter in the last 30 s of cuff occlusion as compared with resting diameter. FMD is calculated as the maximum percentage increase in arterial diameter following cuff deflation.

  14. Changes in orthostatic tolerance

    Time frame: At 6am on every trial day (upon waking).

    Orthostatic tolerance will be assessed by measuring heart rate variability. This will involve an app-validated 10-min protocol, which will use a chest-band to monitor heart rate changes from 5 minutes of supine position followed by 5 minutes of standing.

  15. Changes in oxidative stress markers in the blood

    Time frame: Blood samples will be collected at 6am (upon waking).

    Oxidative stress markers concentration will be measured on collected venous blood sample.

  16. Change in salivary cortisol concentration

    Time frame: Saliva samples will be collected at 6am (upon waking).

    Cortisol concentration will be measured on collected saliva samples.

  17. Change in hydration status

    Time frame: Urine samples will be collected at 6am (upon waking).

    Urine samples will be assessed using urine specific gravity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in cerebral blood flow in the internal carotid artery

    Time frame: Cerebral blood flow will be measured at 10am.

    Cerebral blood flow in the internal will be assessed every morning by doppler ultrasound.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Jozef Stefan Institute

Other

Collaborators

  • University of Lausanne

Registry information

Official study title

Mechanisms of Hypoxia (in)Tolerance in Prematurely Born Individuals

Acronym: PreAlti

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Feb 5, 2021
Registry last updated
Aug 15, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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