Does altitude affect blood gases in hemodialysis patients?

Introduction This study aimed to determine whether predialysis blood gases is affected by altitude differences in hemodialysis patients with arteriovenous fistulas living in Turkey at three different altitudes. Methods Patients' predialysis blood gases were compared by standardizing both arterial blood gases collections and working methods for patients undergoing hemodialysis using a dialysate with the same properties at altitudes of 30 m (sea level), 1020 m (moderate altitude), and 1951 m (high altitude). Findings Blood gases disorders were detected in 32 (82.1%) high altitude group patients, whereas 49 (74.2%) sea level group patients had no blood gases disorders (P