Department of Emergency Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
High Alt Med Biol. 2010 Spring;11(1):43-9. doi: 10.1089/ham.2009.1063.
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a pathophysiological symptom complex that occurs in high altitude areas. The AMS prevalence is reportedly 28% on Jade Mountain, the highest mountain (3952 m) in Taiwan. We conducted this study owing to the lack of annual epidemiological data on AMS in Taiwan. Between April 2007 and March 2008, 1066 questionnaires were completed by trekkers visiting Paiyun Lodge on Jade Mountain. Information in the questionnaire included demographic data, mountaineering experience, AMS history, and trekking schedule. Weather data were obtained from the Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan. The Lake Louise AMS score was used to record symptoms and diagnose AMS. The chi-square test or the Student t test was used to evaluate associations between variables and AMS. In our study, the AMS prevalence was 36%. It increased significantly at different rates at different locations on the Jade Mountain trail and varied significantly in different months. Rainy weather tended to slightly increase the incidence of AMS. A lower incidence of AMS was correlated with hig-altitude trekking experience or preexposure (p < 0.05), whereas a higher incidence of AMS was correlated with a prior history of AMS (p < 0.05). The trekkers with AMS were significantly younger, ascended faster from their residence to the entrance or to Paiyun Lodge, and ascended slower from the entrance to the Paiyun Lodge (p < 0.05), but the differences lacked clinical significance. No differences in the incidence of AMS based on blood type, gender, or obesity were observed. The most common symptom among all trekkers was headache, followed by difficulty sleeping, fatigue or weakness, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, and dizziness or lightheadedness. In conclusion, the AMS prevalence on Jade Mountain was 36%, varied by month, and correlated with trekking experience, preexposure, and a prior history of AMS. The overall presentation of AMS was similar to that on other major world mountains.
高山病（AMS）是一种在高海拔地区发生的病理生理症状复杂。据报道，台湾最高山（3952 米）玉山的 AMS 患病率为 28%。由于台湾缺乏关于 AMS 的年度流行病学数据，我们进行了这项研究。2007 年 4 月至 2008 年 3 月，1066 份问卷由访问玉山白云山庄的徒步旅行者填写。问卷中的信息包括人口统计学数据、登山经验、AMS 病史和徒步旅行日程。天气数据从台湾中央气象局获得。使用路易斯湖 AMS 评分记录症状并诊断 AMS。卡方检验或学生 t 检验用于评估变量与 AMS 之间的关联。在我们的研究中，AMS 的患病率为 36%。它在玉山步道的不同地点以不同的速度显著增加，并且在不同的月份差异显著。雨天往往会略微增加 AMS 的发病率。低 AMS 发病率与高海拔徒步旅行经验或预先暴露相关（p < 0.05），而高 AMS 发病率与既往 AMS 病史相关（p < 0.05）。有 AMS 的徒步旅行者明显更年轻，从居住地到入口或白云山庄的上升速度更快，从入口到白云山庄的上升速度较慢（p < 0.05），但差异没有临床意义。未观察到 AMS 发病率基于血型、性别或肥胖的差异。所有徒步旅行者中最常见的症状是头痛，其次是睡眠困难、疲劳或虚弱、胃肠道（GI）症状和头晕或头晕。总之，玉山的 AMS 患病率为 36%，随月份而异，与徒步旅行经验、预先暴露和既往 AMS 病史相关。AMS 的整体表现与其他主要世界山脉相似。
