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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology
Incidence and predictors of acute mountain sickness among trekkers on Mount Kilimanjaro
High Altitude Medicine and Biology, Volume 11, No. 3, Year 2010
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Description
We investigated the incidence of AMS amongst a general population of trekkers on Mount Kilimanjaro, using the Lake Louise consensus scoring system (LLS). Additionally we examined the effect of prophylactic acetazolamide and different ascent profiles. Climbers on 3 different ascent itineraries were recruited. At 2743m we recruited 177 participants (mean age 31, range [18-71]) who completed LLS together with an epidemiological questionnaire. At 4730m participants (n=189, male=108, female=68, mean age 33, range [1871]) completed LLS, 136 of whom had been followed up from 2730m. At 2743m, 3% (5/177) of climbers were AMS positive, and 47% (89/189) of climbers from all itineraries were AMS positive at 4730m. Of climbers attempting the Marangu itineraries, 33% (45/136) were taking acetazolamide. This group had a similar rate of AMS and no statistical difference in severity of LLS when compared with those not taking prophylactic drugs. We also did not demonstrate a difference between the incidence of AMS in climbers who did or did not take a rest day at 3700m. However, there was a significant reduction in the incidence of AMS amongst pre-acclimatized subjects. Consistent with previous work, we found that the rate of AMS on Mount Kilimanjaro is high. Furthermore, at these fast ascent rates, there was no evidence of a protective effect of acetazolamide or a single rest day. There is a need to increase public awareness of the risks of altitude sickness and we advocate a pragmatic "golden rules" approach (http://www.altitude.org/altitude-sickness.php). © 2010 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Authors & Co-Authors
Jackson, Stewart J.
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Varley, James
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Sellers, Claudia
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Josephs, Katherine
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Codrington, Lucy
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Duke, Georgina
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Njelekela, Marina Alois
Tanzania, Dar es Salaam
Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
Drummond, Gordon
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Sutherland, Andrew I.
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Thompson, A. A.Roger
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Baillie, J. Kenneth
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Statistics
Citations: 57
Authors: 11
Affiliations: 2
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1089/ham.2010.1003
ISSN:
15270297
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Participants Gender
Male
Female