TY - JOUR T1 - Prevalence of polar dyspnea in inhabitants of Gydan peninsula, Far North of Russia JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - P593 AU - Andrey Lobanov AU - Sergey Andronov AU - Andrey Popov AU - Alexandr Emelyanov Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P593.abstract N2 - The harsh climate of the Arctic may have negative effect on respiratory system and induce polar dyspnea in its inhabitants. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of polar dyspnea in the population of the Gydan Peninsula, which is located on Far North of Russia.We examined 405 healthy inhabitants (144 men) of the Gydan Peninsula aged 18-60 yrs (mean age 43.2 yr), including 117 nenets from tundra population. Hyperventilation syndrome was diagnosed by using Nijmegen questionnaire (1984). Family history was analyzed by study of three generation pedigree. Pulmonary function was measured by dry spirometry (SpiroUSB ML 2525 CareFusion, UK).Syndrome of polar dyspnea was diagnosed in 29.4% inhabitans. It was more common in women (35.4% vs 18.7% in men, χ2-11.6; p<0.001), immigrants (33.6% vs 20.8% in aborigines, χ2-4.6; p=0.03) and residents with positive family history (60.0% vs 36.5% in residents with negative history, p=0.01). FEV1 was normal in all groups.We conclude that polar dyspnea is a functional disorder affecting some inhabitants of Far North. Its mechanism is not clear and may reflect a dysfunction of central nervous system in cold climate. ER -