Background: We investigated altitude effects on different cognitive domains among perennial shift-workers at the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Observatory (5050 m), Chile. Materials and Methods: Twenty healthy male workers were recruited and assigned to either a moderate-altitude first (MAF group, Test 1: 2900 m and Test 2: 5050 m) or to a high-altitude first (HAF group, Test 1: 5050 m and Test 2: 2900 m). Test 1 was conducted at the beginning and Test 2 at the end of the shift-work week. Processing speed (RTI, reaction time), attention (AST, attention-switching task, and RVP, rapid visual processing), and executive function (OTS, One Touch Stockings of Cambridge) were assessed. Results: Of the three cognitive domains assessed, only processing speed showed altitude-at-test group interaction (RTI median five choice reaction time: F1, 17 = 6.980, [Formula: see text] = 0.291, p = 0.017). With acclimatization, there was a decrease in AST reaction latency mean (t17 = -2.155, dz = 1.086, p = 0.046), an increase in RVP accuracy (t17 = 2.733, dz = 1.398, p = 0.014), and a decrease in OTS mean latency first choice (t17 = -2.375, dz = 1.211, p = 0.03). Decreased variability in cognitive function was observed in AST reaction latency standard deviation (t17 = -2.524, dz = 1.282, p = 0.022) and in RVP response latency standard deviation (t17 = -2.35, dz = 1.177, p = 0.03) with acclimatization. At 5050 m of elevation, SpO2 was positively correlated with executive function in the MAF group (OTS problems solved on first choice: r(5) = 0.839, p = 0.018) and negatively correlated with executive function latency standard deviations in the HAF group (OTS latency to first choice standard deviation: r(10) = -0.618, p = 0.032). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of acclimatization and improvement of blood oxygen level, even among high altitude-experienced workers, to optimize performance of cognitively demanding work and reduce high altitude-associated health risks.

中文翻译：

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在5050 m高度有经验的工作人员中反复多次暴露于非常高的海拔的认知效果。

背景：我们在智利的阿塔卡马大型毫米/亚毫米阵列观测站（5050 m）调查了多年生轮班工人不同认知领域的海拔影响。材料和方法：招募了20名健康男性工人，并将其分配给中海拔优先（MAF组，测试1：2900 m和测试2：5050 m）或高海拔优先（HAF组，测试1：5050） m和测试2：2900 m）。在轮班工作开始时进行测试1，在工作结束时进行测试2。评估处理速度（RTI，反应时间），注意力（AST，注意力切换任务和RVP，快速视觉处理）和执行功能（OTS，剑桥一键式长袜）。结果：在评估的三个认知域中，只有处理速度显示了海拔高度测试组的交互作用（RTI中位数五个选择反应时间：F1，17 = 6.980，[公式：参见文字] = 0.291，p = 0.017）。适应后，AST反应潜伏期平均值降低（t17 = -2.155，dz = 1.086，p = 0.046），RVP准确性提高（t17 = 2.733，dz = 1.398，p = 0.014），而RVP准确性降低OTS平均等待时间优先选择（t17 = -2.375，dz = 1.211，p = 0.03）。适应后AST反应潜伏期标准偏差（t17 = -2.524，dz = 1.282，p = 0.022）和RVP应答潜伏期标准偏差（t17 = -2.35，dz = 1.177，p = 0.03）认知功能的变异性降低。在海拔5050 m处，SpO2与MAF组的执行功能正相关（首选解决的OTS问题：r（5）= 0.839，p = 0。018）并与HAF组中执行功能潜伏期标准差负相关（OTS潜伏期至首选标准差：r（10）= -0.618，p = 0.032）。结论：我们的发现强调了即使在高海拔地区的工人中，适应和改善血氧水平对于优化需要认知的工作的绩效并减少与高海拔相关的健康风险的重要性。