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Acute mountain sickness (AMS) at 3048m is exacerbated by dehydration
Author(s) -
Sils Ingrid,
Castellani John W,
Beidleman Beth A,
Muza Stephen R
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.616.11
Subject(s) - medicine , dehydration , morning , zoology , chemistry , biochemistry , biology
Epidemiological evidence suggests that AMS has a higher incidence (I AMS ) in people who are dehydrated, yet the effect of dehydration on I AMS and severity (S AMS ) has not been prospectively tested. This study assessed AMS following rapid ascent to 3048m (ALT) in euhydrated (EU) and dehydrated (DE) subjects (SS). Seven males (mean±SD, 25±7yr, 82±11kg) participated in four trials over two weeks. On the day before a trial, SS either DE by 4% or remained EU while exercising in a climatic chamber (50 o C, 20%RH). The next morning they ascended either to ALT or remained near sea‐level (152m, SL) for 8h in a hypobaric chamber (27 o C, 34%RH). I AMS and S AMS were assessed using the cerebral factor score (AMS‐C) calculated from the Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire at 45min, 3h and 71/2h after ascent. Between 45min and 3h SS performed tasks ranging from low to high exertion. Results Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO 2 ) was lower at ALT vs SL (90±2% vs 97±1%, p< 0.001). I AMS increased with DE (SL‐EU: 0/7 (0%); SL‐DE: 1/7 (14.3%); ALT‐EU: 2/7 (28.6%); ALT‐DE: 5/7 (71.4%)). S AMS increased somewhat with DE at SL (EU, 0.14±0.20; DE, 0.52±0.45; p<0.07) and at ALT (EU, 0.41±0.26; DE, 1.11±0.98; p<0.07). These results suggest that 4% DE increases SL resident's susceptibility and severity of AMS with rapid ascent and exposure to 3048m. Funded by US Army MRMC ATO IV.MD.2006.01. Authors' views are not official U.S. Army or DoD policy.