BACKGROUND: Although few retrospective studies of high altitude have reported that obesity might be associated with the development of acute mountain sickness (AMS), this association has not been studied prospectively. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether obesity is associated with the development of AMS. DESIGN: Obese and nonobese men were compared at a simulated altitude of 3658 m (12 000 ft). SETTING: 24 hours in a hypobaric environmental chamber. PARTICIPANTS: 9 obese and 10 nonobese men. MEASUREMENTS: Percentage body fat (by hydrostatic weighing), Lake Louise AMS score, and Sao2 level (by pulse oximetry) were measured. RESULTS: Average AMS scores increased more rapidly with time spent at simulated high altitudes for obese men than for nonobese men (P < 0.001). The response of Sao2 with exposure differed between nonobese and obese men. After 24 hours in the altitude chamber, seven obese men (78%) and four nonobese men (40%) had AMS scores of 4 or more. CONCLUSION: Obesity seems to be associated with the development of AMS, which may be partly related to greater nocturnal desaturation with altitude exposure.
BACKGROUND: Although few retrospective studies of high altitude have reported that obesity might be associated with the development of acute mountain sickness (AMS), this association has not been studied prospectively. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether obesity is associated with the development of AMS. DESIGN:Obese and nonobese men were compared at a simulated altitude of 3658 m (12 000 ft). SETTING: 24 hours in a hypobaric environmental chamber. PARTICIPANTS: 9 obese and 10 nonobese men. MEASUREMENTS: Percentage body fat (by hydrostatic weighing), Lake Louise AMS score, and Sao2 level (by pulse oximetry) were measured. RESULTS: Average AMS scores increased more rapidly with time spent at simulated high altitudes for obesemen than for nonobese men (P < 0.001). The response of Sao2 with exposure differed between nonobese and obesemen. After 24 hours in the altitude chamber, seven obesemen (78%) and four nonobese men (40%) had AMS scores of 4 or more. CONCLUSION:Obesity seems to be associated with the development of AMS, which may be partly related to greater nocturnal desaturation with altitude exposure.
Authors: Jeremy Joslin; Martin D Hoffman; Ian Rogers; Robert M Worthing; Matt Ladbrook; Joshua Mularella Journal: Sports Med Date: 2015-08 Impact factor: 11.136
Authors: Víctor H Nieto Estrada; Daniel Molano Franco; Roger David Medina; Alejandro G Gonzalez Garay; Arturo J Martí-Carvajal; Ingrid Arevalo-Rodriguez Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2017-06-27
Authors: Katsufumi Nishida; Michael J Lanspa; Tom V Cloward; Lindell K Weaver; Samuel M Brown; James E Bell; Colin K Grissom Journal: Ann Am Thorac Soc Date: 2015-07