Originally Posted by
jfsully
You have a little more work to do here.
Fewer people live at higher elevations in the US than at lower, and population may be less dense at altitude, generally. Is there really a lower rate of infection at altitude? Is the rate of infection truly related to altitude, or are there other confounding factors?
Yes, people have slightly higher RBC counts on average at higher altitudes. People all over the country have varying RBC counts. If this helped with covid, we would see this association everywhere, as we check a CBC on every ill patient, usually at least daily.
How long does EPO take to work, and how much does it raise HCT? How much do you have to raise HCT to make a difference in oxygen delivery to tissue? Is it safe to use EPO to raise HCT in a non-anemic person? Can it go to high? What are the risks? How long does the effect of EPO last, if it does add risk? Does it help with any other situations where there is acute hypoxia?
How safe is it to give EPO to critically ill patients?
Let us know what you come up with.