A Prospective Epidemiological Study of Acute Mountain Sickness in Nepalese Pilgrims Ascending to High Altitude (4380 m)
Autor: | Eric A. Carter, Ankita Subedi, Michael S. Koehle, Jim L. Rupert, Bidur Prasad Pandit, Nadia Widmer, Ashmita Siwakoti, Martin J. MacInnis, Michael G. Freeman, Utsav Timalsina, Ghan Bahadur Thapa |
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Rok vydání: | 2013 |
Předmět: |
Adult
Male medicine.medical_specialty Intraclass correlation Science Altitude Sickness Young Adult 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Nepal Epidemiology Humans Medicine Prospective Studies 030212 general & internal medicine Sibling Young adult Prospective cohort study Altitude sickness Multidisciplinary business.industry Altitude Incidence (epidemiology) Middle Aged Effects of high altitude on humans medicine.disease Female business 030217 neurology & neurosurgery Research Article Demography |
Zdroj: | PLoS ONE PLoS ONE, Vol 8, Iss 10, p e75644 (2013) |
ISSN: | 1932-6203 |
Popis: | BackgroundEach year, thousands of pilgrims travel to the Janai Purnima festival in Gosainkunda, Nepal (4380 m), ascending rapidly and often without the aid of pharmaceutical prophylaxis.MethodsDuring the 2012 Janai Purnima festival, 538 subjects were recruited in Dhunche (1950 m) before ascending to Gosainkunda. Through interviews, subjects provided demographic information, ratings of AMS symptoms (Lake Louise Scores; LLS), ascent profiles, and strategies for prophylaxis.ResultsIn the 491 subjects (91% follow-up rate) who were assessed upon arrival at Gosainkunda, the incidence of AMS was 34.0%. AMS was more common in females than in males (RR = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.23, 2.00), and the AMS incidence was greater in subjects >35 years compared to subjects ≤35 years (RR = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.36, 1.95). There was a greater incidence of AMS in subjects who chose to use garlic as a prophylactic compared to those who did not (RR = 1.69; 95% CI = 1.26, 2.28). Although the LLS of brothers had a moderate correlation (intraclass correlation = 0.40, p = 0.023), sibling AMS status was a weak predictor of AMS.ConclusionsThe incidence of AMS upon reaching 4380 m was 34% in a large population of Nepalese pilgrims. Sex, age, and ascent rate were significant factors in the development of AMS, and traditional Nepalese remedies were ineffective in the prevention of AMS. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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