Strong association between polycythemia and glucose intolerance in older adults living at high altitudes in the andes

Abstract

This study examines the association between polycythemia and glucose intolerance among older adults living at high altitudes in the Peruvian Andes. Using clinical and metabolic data collected from populations residing between 2,600 and 3,800 meters above sea level, the authors identified a significant relationship between polycythemia and an increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus or impaired fasting glucose, independent of age, sex, obesity, ethnicity, hypoxia, and altitude of residence. The findings suggest that polycythemia may serve as an indicator of susceptibility to metabolic disorders in high-altitude populations and contribute to a better understanding of the interactions between physiological adaptation to hypoxia, aging, and metabolic health in the Andean region.