A longitudinal study on the effects of oxygenation on sleep in Tibetan plateau residents

Objective: The decline in sleep quality induced by hypoxia is the main environmental exposure risk affecting the physiological health of high-altitude residents. The long-term effects of oxygen therapy on the sleep quality and health of highlanders remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the impact of chronic oxygen therapy on sleep and health, providing a scientific basis for the establishment of regional centralized oxygen supply and the implementation of health regulations to improve sleep quality and health in plateau areas.

Methods: Conducted over a span of three years at an altitude of 3255 m in the Tibetan Plateau, this study included 317 participants and meticulously recorded sleep data for 1398 nights. The generalized estimation equation was used to analyze the impact of oxygen supply on sleep quality, physiological parameters, and indoor environment.

Results: The research found that long-term oxygen therapy significantly reduced the pulse rate of highland residents, increased their blood oxygen saturation, and consequently decreased their risk of cardiovascular disease. Oxygen-enriched environments improved the sleep quality of highland dwellers, significantly increasing their sleep efficiency, duration of rapid eye movement sleep and deep sleep, and subjective sleep quality evaluation, while also significantly reducing central sleep apnea-induced nighttime awakening events.

Conclusions: Long-term chronic oxygen therapy is beneficial to highland residents in terms of sleep respiratory rhythm, sleep quality, and cardiovascular function. It is imperative for both the local inhabitants of high-altitude areas and the local health authorities to be aware of the risks of hypoxia and the health benefits of oxygen therapy.