Incidence and Symptoms of High Altitude Illness in South Pole Workers: Antarctic Study of Altitude Physiology (ASAP)
Introduction Each year, the US Antarctic Program rapidly transports scientists and support personnel from sea level (SL) to the South Pole (SP, 2835 m) providing a unique natural laboratory to quantify the incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS), patterns of altitude related symptoms and the fiel...
Published in: | Clinical Medicine Insights: Circulatory, Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
SAGE Publications
2011
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.4137/ccrpm.s6882 http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.4137/CCRPM.S6882 http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full-xml/10.4137/CCRPM.S6882 |
id |
crsagepubl:10.4137/ccrpm.s6882 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crsagepubl:10.4137/ccrpm.s6882 2023-05-15T14:13:34+02:00 Incidence and Symptoms of High Altitude Illness in South Pole Workers: Antarctic Study of Altitude Physiology (ASAP) Anderson, Paul J. Miller, Andrew D. O'malley, Kathy A. Ceridon, Maile L. Beck, Kenneth C. Wood, Christina M. Wiste, Heather J. Mueller, Joshua J. Johnson, Jacob B. Johnson, Bruce D. 2011 http://dx.doi.org/10.4137/ccrpm.s6882 http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.4137/CCRPM.S6882 http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full-xml/10.4137/CCRPM.S6882 en eng SAGE Publications http://journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license Clinical Medicine Insights: Circulatory, Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine volume 5, page CCRPM.S6882 ISSN 1179-5484 1179-5484 Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine journal-article 2011 crsagepubl https://doi.org/10.4137/ccrpm.s6882 2022-04-14T04:49:20Z Introduction Each year, the US Antarctic Program rapidly transports scientists and support personnel from sea level (SL) to the South Pole (SP, 2835 m) providing a unique natural laboratory to quantify the incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS), patterns of altitude related symptoms and the field effectiveness of acetazolamide in a highly controlled setting. We hypothesized that the combination of rapid ascent (3 hr), accentuated hypobarism (relative to altitude), cold, and immediate exertion would increase altitude illness risk. Methods Medically screened adults (N = 246, age = 37 ± 11 yr, 30% female, BMI = 26 ± 4 kg/m 2 ) were recruited. All underwent SL and SP physiological evaluation, completed Lake Louise symptom questionnaires (LLSQ, to define AMS), and answered additional symptom related questions (eg, exertional dyspnea, mental status, cough, edema and general health), during the 1st week at altitude. Acetazolamide, while not mandatory, was used by 40% of participants. Results At SP, the barometric pressure resulted in physiological altitudes that approached 3400 m, while T ° C averaged -42, humidity 0.03%. Arterial oxygen saturation averaged 89% ± 3%. Overall, 52% developed LLSQ defined AMS. The most common symptoms reported were exertional dyspnea-(87%), sleeping difficulty-(74%), headache-(66%), fatigue-(65%), and dizziness/lightheadedness-(46%). Symptom severity peaked on days 1-2, yet in >20% exertional dyspnea, fatigue and sleep problems persisted through day 7. AMS incidence was similar between those using acetazolamide and those abstaining (51 vs. 52%, P = 0.87). Those who used acetazolamide tended to be older, have less altitude experience, worse symptoms on previous exposures, and less SP experience. Conclusion The incidence of AMS at SP tended to be higher than previously reports in other geographic locations at similar altitudes. Thus, the SP constitutes a more intense altitude exposure than might be expected considering physical altitude alone. Many symptoms persist, possibly due to extremely cold, arid conditions and the benefits of acetazolamide appeared negligible, though it may have prevented more severe symptoms in higher risk subjects. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic South pole South pole SAGE Publications (via Crossref) Antarctic South Pole Clinical Medicine Insights: Circulatory, Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine 5 CCRPM.S6882 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
SAGE Publications (via Crossref) |
op_collection_id |
crsagepubl |
language |
English |
topic |
Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine |
spellingShingle |
Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine Anderson, Paul J. Miller, Andrew D. O'malley, Kathy A. Ceridon, Maile L. Beck, Kenneth C. Wood, Christina M. Wiste, Heather J. Mueller, Joshua J. Johnson, Jacob B. Johnson, Bruce D. Incidence and Symptoms of High Altitude Illness in South Pole Workers: Antarctic Study of Altitude Physiology (ASAP) |
topic_facet |
Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine |
description |
Introduction Each year, the US Antarctic Program rapidly transports scientists and support personnel from sea level (SL) to the South Pole (SP, 2835 m) providing a unique natural laboratory to quantify the incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS), patterns of altitude related symptoms and the field effectiveness of acetazolamide in a highly controlled setting. We hypothesized that the combination of rapid ascent (3 hr), accentuated hypobarism (relative to altitude), cold, and immediate exertion would increase altitude illness risk. Methods Medically screened adults (N = 246, age = 37 ± 11 yr, 30% female, BMI = 26 ± 4 kg/m 2 ) were recruited. All underwent SL and SP physiological evaluation, completed Lake Louise symptom questionnaires (LLSQ, to define AMS), and answered additional symptom related questions (eg, exertional dyspnea, mental status, cough, edema and general health), during the 1st week at altitude. Acetazolamide, while not mandatory, was used by 40% of participants. Results At SP, the barometric pressure resulted in physiological altitudes that approached 3400 m, while T ° C averaged -42, humidity 0.03%. Arterial oxygen saturation averaged 89% ± 3%. Overall, 52% developed LLSQ defined AMS. The most common symptoms reported were exertional dyspnea-(87%), sleeping difficulty-(74%), headache-(66%), fatigue-(65%), and dizziness/lightheadedness-(46%). Symptom severity peaked on days 1-2, yet in >20% exertional dyspnea, fatigue and sleep problems persisted through day 7. AMS incidence was similar between those using acetazolamide and those abstaining (51 vs. 52%, P = 0.87). Those who used acetazolamide tended to be older, have less altitude experience, worse symptoms on previous exposures, and less SP experience. Conclusion The incidence of AMS at SP tended to be higher than previously reports in other geographic locations at similar altitudes. Thus, the SP constitutes a more intense altitude exposure than might be expected considering physical altitude alone. Many symptoms persist, possibly due to extremely cold, arid conditions and the benefits of acetazolamide appeared negligible, though it may have prevented more severe symptoms in higher risk subjects. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Anderson, Paul J. Miller, Andrew D. O'malley, Kathy A. Ceridon, Maile L. Beck, Kenneth C. Wood, Christina M. Wiste, Heather J. Mueller, Joshua J. Johnson, Jacob B. Johnson, Bruce D. |
author_facet |
Anderson, Paul J. Miller, Andrew D. O'malley, Kathy A. Ceridon, Maile L. Beck, Kenneth C. Wood, Christina M. Wiste, Heather J. Mueller, Joshua J. Johnson, Jacob B. Johnson, Bruce D. |
author_sort |
Anderson, Paul J. |
title |
Incidence and Symptoms of High Altitude Illness in South Pole Workers: Antarctic Study of Altitude Physiology (ASAP) |
title_short |
Incidence and Symptoms of High Altitude Illness in South Pole Workers: Antarctic Study of Altitude Physiology (ASAP) |
title_full |
Incidence and Symptoms of High Altitude Illness in South Pole Workers: Antarctic Study of Altitude Physiology (ASAP) |
title_fullStr |
Incidence and Symptoms of High Altitude Illness in South Pole Workers: Antarctic Study of Altitude Physiology (ASAP) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Incidence and Symptoms of High Altitude Illness in South Pole Workers: Antarctic Study of Altitude Physiology (ASAP) |
title_sort |
incidence and symptoms of high altitude illness in south pole workers: antarctic study of altitude physiology (asap) |
publisher |
SAGE Publications |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.4137/ccrpm.s6882 http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.4137/CCRPM.S6882 http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full-xml/10.4137/CCRPM.S6882 |
geographic |
Antarctic South Pole |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic South Pole |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic South pole South pole |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic South pole South pole |
op_source |
Clinical Medicine Insights: Circulatory, Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine volume 5, page CCRPM.S6882 ISSN 1179-5484 1179-5484 |
op_rights |
http://journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.4137/ccrpm.s6882 |
container_title |
Clinical Medicine Insights: Circulatory, Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine |
container_volume |
5 |
container_start_page |
CCRPM.S6882 |
_version_ |
1766286013758439424 |