Few studies exist on the effects of exposure to high altitudes in patients with a history of myocardial infarction, especially altitudes above 3500 m. Patients with stable ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction showed good tolerance while walking at an altitude of 2970 m.
1-4 A group of low-risk patients were sent up the Jungfrau in Switzerland, six months after revascularisation for an acute coronary event. Submaximal exercise at an altitude of 3454 m turned out to be safe.
5 However, in that study the patient group was not compared with a healthy control group. …