Maud Santantonio1, Jean-Marc Chapplain2, Pierre Tattevin3, Hélène Leroy2, Eric Mener4, Jean-Pierre Gangneux5, Christian Michelet2, Matthieu Revest2. 1. Centre de vaccination et de conseils aux voyageurs, Hôpital Pontchaillou, Rennes, France. 2. Centre de vaccination et de conseils aux voyageurs, Hôpital Pontchaillou, Rennes, France; Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Pontchaillou, Université Rennes I, Rennes, France. 3. Centre de vaccination et de conseils aux voyageurs, Hôpital Pontchaillou, Rennes, France; Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Pontchaillou, Université Rennes I, Rennes, France. Electronic address: pierre.tattevin@chu-rennes.fr. 4. Département de Médecine Générale, Université Rennes I, Rennes, France. 5. Centre de vaccination et de conseils aux voyageurs, Hôpital Pontchaillou, Rennes, France; Laboratoire de parasitologie, Hôpital Pontchaillou, Université Rennes I, Rennes, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is common in high-altitude travellers, and may lead to life-threatening high-altitude cerebral oedema. To better target pre-travel counselling, we aimed to characterize the risk factors for AMS that may be identified prior to departure. METHODS: We performed a descriptive study of high-altitude travellers who consulted at a travel clinic before departure. Data were collected by phone after their return, using a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS: 162 adults were enrolled. Most subjects (81.5%) were informed about AMS before departure, by a medical doctor in 40% of cases. AMS symptoms were reported by 77 travellers (47.5%). Variables significantly associated with AMS symptoms were female sex (56% versus 38.5%, p = 0.01), trip organised by a travel agency (55.2% versus 43.3%, p = 0.03), travel duration (mean, 4.2 ± 3.5 weeks in patients with AMS, versus 6.6 ± 7.5 weeks in patients without AMS, p = 0.014), and acetazolamide use (71.4% versus 47.5%, p = 0.045). In multivariate analysis, only female sex was independently predictive of AMS (adjusted OR 2.15 [1.14-4.40]). CONCLUSIONS: AMS symptoms occur in almost half of high-altitude travellers. Women, and travellers leaving for short duration, within trips organised by travel agencies, should be targeted for enhanced pre-travel counselling to prevent AMS.
BACKGROUND: Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is common in high-altitude travellers, and may lead to life-threatening high-altitude cerebral oedema. To better target pre-travel counselling, we aimed to characterize the risk factors for AMS that may be identified prior to departure. METHODS: We performed a descriptive study of high-altitude travellers who consulted at a travel clinic before departure. Data were collected by phone after their return, using a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS: 162 adults were enrolled. Most subjects (81.5%) were informed about AMS before departure, by a medical doctor in 40% of cases. AMS symptoms were reported by 77 travellers (47.5%). Variables significantly associated with AMS symptoms were female sex (56% versus 38.5%, p = 0.01), trip organised by a travel agency (55.2% versus 43.3%, p = 0.03), travel duration (mean, 4.2 ± 3.5 weeks in patients with AMS, versus 6.6 ± 7.5 weeks in patients without AMS, p = 0.014), and acetazolamide use (71.4% versus 47.5%, p = 0.045). In multivariate analysis, only female sex was independently predictive of AMS (adjusted OR 2.15 [1.14-4.40]). CONCLUSIONS:AMS symptoms occur in almost half of high-altitude travellers. Women, and travellers leaving for short duration, within trips organised by travel agencies, should be targeted for enhanced pre-travel counselling to prevent AMS.
Authors: Marc Schaber; Veronika Leichtfried; Dietmar Fries; Maria Wille; Hannes Gatterer; Martin Faulhaber; Philipp Würtinger; Wolfgang Schobersberger Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2015-09-15 Impact factor: 3.411
Authors: Benedikt Treml; Axel Kleinsasser; Tobias Hell; Hans Knotzer; Maria Wille; Martin Burtscher Journal: Front Physiol Date: 2020-05-29 Impact factor: 4.566