Altitude tolerance among patients with common cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases travel to altitudes above 2000 m inadvisable:

1.1 Cardiovascular diseases:

• Within 3 months of myocardial infarction, stroke, ICD implantation, thromboembolic event
• Unstable angina pectoris
• Before planned coronary interventions
• Heart failure, NYHA class >II
• Congenital cyanotic or severe acyanotic heart defect

1.2 Pulmonary diseases:

• Pulmonary arterial hypertension
• Severe or exacerbated COPD (GOLD stage III–IV)
• FEV1 <1 liter
• CO2 retention
• Poorly controlled asthma

Travel to altitudes of 2000–3000 m permissible:

2.1 Cardiac diseases:

• asymptomatic or stable CHD (CCS I–II)
• Stress ECG normal up to 6 METs
• Normal performance capacity for age
• Blood pressure under good control
• No high-grade cardiac arrhythmia
• No concomitant illnesses affecting gas exchange

2.2 Pulmonary diseases:

• Stable COPD or asthma under medical treatment, with adequate reserve function for the planned activity

For travel to altitudes above 3000 m:

• Evaluation by a specialist in altitude medicine and physiology

ICD, implantable cardiac defribrillator; NYHA, New York Heart Association; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GOLD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; CHD, coronary heart disease; CCS, Canadian Cardiovascular Society; MET, metabolic equivalent of task