Source: Annual Congress 2010 - Occupational asthma
Disease area: Airway diseases

Abstract

Acute and chronic effects of hypobaric hypoxia were studied on 5 elite climbers of the Hungarian Mount Everest Expedition 2001. Symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) were examined on ascension from 1300m to 5200m according to Lake Louise Score (LLS). Cardio-respiratory acclimatization was investigated by regular monitoring of the resting oxygen saturation (SpO₂) and heart rate (HR). As a new parameter, Acclimatization (A) – index, was introduced to assess the adaptation and altitude-related circulatory load, calculated as SpO₂/(100*HR/HR_max). HR_max is measured on a pre-expedition exercise test. Psychometric tests were also performed. The total observation period included the ascension, stay at 5200m for 45 days (with short, intermittent exposures to extreme altitude) and descension to 1300m. All subjects have suffered from transient AMS during the early days of ascension. A-index was found to indicate AMS efficiently (cut-off≤1.65), and to negatively correlate with LLS (R=-0.67; p<0.05). Cognitive performance (assessed by an arithmetic test) was stable in all subjects during the stay at altitude. On the first 9 days above 5000m, however, the long-term memory was weaker than later on (as assessed by free or assisted recall of a previous verbal association). The A-index also tended to slightly improve during the stay at 5200m. Five days after returning to 1300m the climbers still had increased HR as a result of long-term exposure to high altitude, and thus, a bit lower A-index than before ascension. In conclusion, we introduced a simple, objective index (based on easily obtainable physiological parameters) for diagnosing AMS. We also registered the time course of altitude-related memory insufficiency.In memoriam professor Pal Magyar.

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Citations should be made in the following way:
Z. I. Komlosi, G. Vida, S. Boros, I. Gyore, G. Losonczy (Budapest, Miskolc, Hungary). Acute and chronic effects of high altitude. Eur Respir J 2010; 36: Suppl. 54, 1459

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