TcPO_(2)changes are more pronounced than SpO_(2)changes during simulated altitude changes in a hypobaric oxygen chamber:a nonrandomized controlled trial

Background:Hypoxia is a significant risk factor of hypertension.However,no studies have used transcutaneous tissue partial pressure of oxygen(TcPO_(2))and partial pressure of carbon dioxide(TcPCO_(2))monitors to measure the respective partial pressures in healthy individuals.Oxygen saturation(SpO_(2))is often used for traditional monitoring of vital signs.This study investigated the changes in TcPO_(2)and SpO_(2)values during rapid changes in altitude.The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov(registration no.NCT06076057).Methods:Healthy adult volunteers were instructed to sit vertically in a hypobaric oxygen chamber,which ascended from 0 m to 2500 m at a uniform speed within 10 min.The Danish Radiometer TCM4 was used to measure TcPO_(2)and TcPCO_(2)with the ventral side of the upper arm as the measurement site.The Shenzhen Kerokan P0D-1 W pulse oximeter was used to measure heart rate and SpO_(2),with values recorded once every 500 m.Results:Altogether,49 healthy volunteers were recruited between March 2023 and August 2023.With increasing altitude,TcPO_(2)and SpO_(2)decreased significantly(P<0.01).During the ascent from 0 m,TcPO_(2)began to change statistically at 500 m(P<0.05),whereas SpO_(2)began to change statistically at 1000 m(P<0.05).At the same altitude,the difference in TcPO_(2)was greater than the difference in SpO_(2).At 1000 m,there were statistically significant changes in TcPO_(2)and SpO_(2)(P<0.001).At altitudes>500 m,statistical significance was identified between TcPO_(2)in both sexes(P<0.05).Statistical significance in TcPCO_(2)and heart rate was observed at the different elevations(P<0.05).Conclusion:In acutely changing low-pressure hypoxic environments,TcPO_(2)changed more dramatically than SpO_(2).