High Altitude Task Force
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More than 80 million people worldwide live in high altitude areas (>2500 metres above sea level). Studies indicate that factors linked to high altitude including low oxygen levels, vasculopathy and metabolic abnormalities alongside genetic predispositions, collectively contribute to the onset and advancement of PH.
The High Altitude Task Force raises awareness and understanding of PH linked to high altitude and organises scientific conferences in regions affected by high altitudes. Recent events include:
- 7th International Leh Symposium, August 2024, Leh, Ladakh.
- 3rd International High Altitude Medicine and Research Symposium 2024, September 2024, Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic.
The PVRI supported grants for both meetings.
The Task Force will have a session at the pre-meeting for the PVRI Rio 2025 Congress on 29 January. Details can be found on the Congress webpage.
If you are interested in joining this Task Force, please get in touch.
Webinars
The Task Force is organising a series of webinars on Hypoxia in pulmonary vascular research – altitude and beyond:
- The first webinar was a presentation on Pulmonary hemodynamic acclimatization to high altitude – pathophysiological insights by Robert Naeije.
- The next webinar on Human metabolic responses to high altitude hypoxia by Andrew Murray takes place on 5 November 2024.
Publications
- Sex-derived attributes to SARS-CoV-2 fatality in co-morbid patients, Neha Chanana, Tsering Palmo, Kavita Sharma†, Rahul Kumar, Brian Graham, Qadar Pasha, Physiol Endo&Met 2020
- Vascular homoeostasis at high altitude: role of genetic variants and transcription factors, Neha Chanana, Tsering Palmo, John H Newman and M.A Qadar Pasha. Pul Circa 2020
- Characteristics and risk profiles of patients with pulmonary arterial or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension living permanently at >2500 m of high altitude in Ecuador, Rodrigo Hoyos, Mona Lichtblau, Elizabeth Cajamarca, Laura Mayer, Esther Irene Schwarz, Silvia Ulrich
Leaders
Aastha Mishra, Institute of genomics and integrative biology (CSIR), India
Silvia Ulrich, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland
Want to be part of something special?
All PVRI members are welcome to join an IDDI Workstream or a Task Force.
Our Regional Task Forces don't yet have global coverage. If you're interested in starting one, please contact us.
Interested in accessing global data on PH patient experience?
Almost 4,000 patients and carers across 85 countries completed Phase 1 of our PH Global Patient Survey (PH GPS). Questions across all PH groups included diagnostic tests & timelines, genetic testing, treatments, financial burdens, hospital visits, research participation, quality of life, telemedicine, patient-reported outcome measures, and self-monitoring with digital technology. The findings have the potential to improve patient care, guide future research and help us address unmet needs.