A Case Review of Risk Factors for Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) in High-Altitude Hiking and Mountaineering Xudong YANG, Jin Hyunju*
Zhejiang Normal University
Abstract
Objective: Through a systematic review, this paper summarizes the incidence of AMS, as well as possible risk factors and protective factors, in the process of high-altitude hiking and mountaineering, and provides a reference for high-altitude hiking and mountaineering enthusiasts in China who want to reduce accident rate involving high-altitude hiking and mountaineering.
Methods: There were 2,894 papers on the subject of ^acute mountain sickness^, ^altitude sickness^, ^altitude sickness^ and ^mountain^ published from 2000 to 2021 in web of Science and PubMed. Unrelated studies were removed based on the following criteria: non-field (laboratory simulation) research- no use of Lake Louise Acute Mountain Sickness Score diagnosis- general population among non-hikers or climbers (children, animals, etc)- failure to specify any risk factors. Based on the aforementioned criteria, a total 17 lists obtained as case study data for this paper.
Results:AMS research has been conducted in famous mountains such as the Himalayas, Mount Fuji, and the Alps in Nepal. According to the literature, the incidence of AMS in high-altitude hiking and mountaineering is between 20% and 35%, with a small overall difference and an overall downward trend in the incidence of AMS. History of AMS, high altitude, rapid ascent, lack of acclimatization time, and other risk factors have been described in the literature. Slow ascent, extensive mountaineering experience, adequate acclimatization time, and other characteristics are all noted in the literature as being protective.
Conclusion: It has been discovered from a review of international studies on AMS that the risk factors for AMS are diverse. In addition to the primary risk factors, such as disease history and excessive altitude rise speed, there are other unique risk factors, such as smoking, drinking water, obesity, and so on, that need to be proven by more research.
