Study on oxygen-supply method for oxygen-enriched rooms at high altitude

Objective To investigate the method of oxygen-supply for oxygen-enriched rooms on plateau for the pilots and to provide evidences for conducting oxygen-enriched room construction and the proper application.Methods Mathematical models of oxygen-enriched rooms were created according to the oxygen concentration varying with time in pilot room and physical exercise training room,and were verified by tests.Eight volunteers entered 3780 m plateau on flight,and were averagely divided into control group and oxygen-supply group according to the number table.Four volunteers of oxygen-supply group lived in oxygen-enriched room during 22:00 to 8:00 next day (successive oxygen supplied with the concentration of 24％-27 ％ for 8 d) while 4 volunteers of control group exposed in natural oxygen environment of pilot room and physical exercise training room.Their data were monitored for 8 d.Heart rate and arterial oxygen saturation of the volunteers in 2 groups were observed.Results The measured oxygen concentrations in pilot room and physical exercise training room had positive correlation to those calculated by mathematical model (r=0.986,0.998,P=0.000).Heart rate of oxygen-supply group was significantly lower than that of control group (F=13.067,P=0.011).Arterial oxygen saturation of oxygen-supply group was significantly higher than that of control group (F =102.885,P =0.000).Conclusions Setting up the mathematical models with the variable of oxygen concentration would be helpful in building oxygen-enriched rooms at high altitude.Oxygen supply for pilot room and physical exercise training room should be in different ways.The physiological equivalent height is proposed lower than 3000 m concerning the oxygen supply in pilot room. Key words: Altitude;  Oxygen;  Model, theoretical;  Oxygen-enriched room