ReviewAging and disease2014
Effects of living at higher altitudes on mortality: a narrative review.
Review in Aging and disease, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 99 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
99 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Impact of altitude correction on bronchopulmonary dysplasia prevalence: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PloS one · 2025Pooled it
- Chronic high-altitude exposure and the epidemiology of ischaemic stroke: a systematic review.BMJ open · 2022Pooled it
- Does intermittent exposure to high altitude increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in workers? A systematic narrative review.BMJ open · 2020Pooled it
- Acute effects of fine particulate matter constituents on mortality: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis.Environment international · 2017Pooled it
- Nocturnal Hypoxic Exposure Combined with Two-Week Hypoxic Training and Calorie Restriction Improves Lipid Profile and Body Composition in Men with Obesity-Related Hypercholesterolemia: A Controlled Intervention Study.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Trial
- Hypoxic Training with Calorie Restriction Improves Lipid Profile and Body Composition in Men with Obesity-Related Hypercholesterolemia: A Controlled Intervention Study.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Trial
- Exposure to Normobaric Hypoxia Combined with a Mixed Diet Contributes to Improvement in Lipid Profile in Trained Cyclists.Nutrients · 2021Trial
- Effect of Monthly High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation on Cardiovascular Disease in the Vitamin D Assessment Study : A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA cardiology · 2017Trial
- Pilot study on the effects of a 2-week hiking vacation at moderate versus low altitude on plasma parameters of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in patients with metabolic syndrome.BMC research notes · 2015Trial
- High-Altitude Residence, Blood Biomarkers, and Chronic Disease Risk in Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Hypoxic Preconditioning: An Underestimated Endogenous Protective Strategy?Biomolecules · 2026Review
- Understanding pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction at high altitude: A narrative review.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2026Review
- Virginia's inpatient mental healthcare geography post SB260.Health policy OPEN · 2026Article
- Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology Under Hypoxia, Microgravity, and Heat Stress: A Review with Public Health Implications.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Review
- Respiratory-physiology modeling of therapeutic hydrogen inhalation: defining the fraction of inspired hydrogen (FiHRespiratory research · 2026Article
- Integrated multi-omics reveals population-specific mechanisms of cardiovascular disease in high-altitude environments.iScience · 2026Article
- Utility of PPO-FEV1%pred in predicting postoperative pulmonary complications after secondary surgery in patients with multiple primary lung cancers.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Article
- Association Between Pulmonary Function Parameters and Apnea Hypopnea Index in Asthmatic Children Living at High Altitude.Canadian respiratory journal · 2026Article
- Moderate altitude exposure impacts extensive host-microbiota multi-kingdom connectivity with serum metabolome and fasting blood glucose.Virulence · 2025Article
- Spatiotemporal trajectory of life expectancy and its disparity in China 2000-2030: modelling and prediction.BMC public health · 2025Article
39 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
1 author.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Beside genetic and life-style characteristics environmental factors may profoundly influence mortality and life expectancy. The high altitude climate comprises a set of conditions bearing the potential of modifying morbidity and mortality of approximately 400 million people who are permanently residing at elevations above 1500 meters. However, epidemiological data on the effects of high altitude living on mortality from major diseases are inconsistent probably due to differences in ethnicity, behavioral factors and the complex interactions with environmental conditions. The available data indicate that residency at higher altitudes are associated with lower mortality from cardiovascular diseases, stroke and certain types of cancer. In contrast mortality from COPD and probably also from lower respiratory tract infections is rather elevated. It may be argued that moderate altitudes are more protective than high or even very high altitudes. Whereas living at higher elevations may frequently protect from development of diseases, it could adversely affect mortality when diseases progress. Corroborating and expanding these findings would be helpful for optimization of medical care and disease management in the aging residents of higher altitudes.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.