Objective:

to describe cardiovascular function and determine cardiac disturbances in patients with and without excessive erythrocyteosis (EE).

Materials and methods:

a prospective, transversal and analytical type study. The sample was of 61 resident patients of the Centro Poblado La Rinconada, located in Puno - Peru, located at 5,200 meters above the sea level. A data collection sheet was used, Qinghai's chronic mountain sickness score was applied, and an experienced cardiologist performed echocardiographies.

Results:

the average age was 44 ± 7 years and the residence time was 16 ± 9.8 years. Of the total number of patients, 80.3% had chronic mountain sickness; of these, 68.9% were mild grade, 6.6% moderate grade and 4.9% severe grade. Among the echocardiographic findings were found: dilation of cardiac cavities (16.4%), slight alteration of the filling of the right ventricle (3.27%), bicuspid aortic valve (3.27%), difficulty filling the left ventricle (8.2%), slight alteration in relaxation and filling of the left ventricle (1.6%), mild aortic insufficiency (1.6%) pulmonary hypertension (1.6%). 83.6% had hemoglobin ≥ 21 mg/dL.

Conclusions:

the group with EE had more cardiac disturbances, the most common cardiac disturbance was the dilation of right heart chambers.

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