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Table 1 Criteria for exclusion from exercise testing at field laboratories and for stopping tests.

From: Design and conduct of Caudwell Xtreme Everest: an observational cohort study of variation in human adaptation to progressive environmental hypoxia

Exclusion Criteria for testing at field laboratories

• Resting blood pressure >200 mmHg Systolic, and or >110 mmHg Diastolic

• Acute systemic infection (discuss with medical officer)

• AMS requiring treatment with acetazolamide, dexamethasone or nifedipine

• Acute chest pain

• New Arrhythmias or ECG changes

• Resting Arterial Oxygen Saturations <90% at sea level; <85% Kathmandu, <80% Namche <75% Pheriche, <70% at Everest Base Camp

Criteria for stopping test

• Excessive rise in blood pressure:

   ○ >250 mmHg Systolic; >115 mmHg Diastolic

• Drop in systolic blood pressure of >10 mmHg from baseline, with other indications of ischaemia (see below)

   • >2 mm ST depression or >1 mm ST elevation

   • Onset of angina or angina-like symptoms

   • Onset of new arrhythmia other than ventricular ectopics

• Nervous system symptoms - ataxia, dizziness or near syncope

• Subject requests termination of test