Newcomb Lauren, Sherpa Chhewang, Nickol Annabel, Windsor Jeremy
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southland Hospital, Invercargill, New Zealand.
Wilderness Environ Med. 2011 Sep;22(3):197-201. doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2011.06.001.
Altitude illness can occur in anyone who ascends to high altitude. Better understanding of altitude illness is associated with a lower incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS). The purpose of this study is to compare, for the first time, the incidence and understanding of altitude illness between foreign trekkers and indigenous porters in Nepal.
Interviews and questionnaires were completed at the International Porter Protection Group Rescue Post at Machermo (4470 m). Participants completed the Lake Louise acute mountain sickness self-assessment questionnaire. They were also asked about their actions in response to high altitude illness scenarios as well as their perception of the vulnerability of porters vs trekkers to altitude illness. Ascent profile, age, gender, ethnic origin, and altitude of home residence were also obtained.
Trekkers (n=131) had a significantly higher incidence of AMS (21% vs 8%) than porters (n=92; P < .02). Lowland porters (whose home villages were below 3050 m, n=61) had a numerically higher, though not significantly different, incidence of AMS (10% vs 3%) compared to highland porters (n=31). The majority of trekkers and porters recognized the symptoms of altitude illness and the most appropriate action to be taken. Despite the lower incidence of AMS in porters, around half felt that they were at greater risk than trekkers.
Porters had a lower incidence of AMS, which may be attributable to repeated ascents through the trekking season, or differences in reporting symptoms. Both trekkers and porters demonstrated appropriate knowledge of actions to be taken in response to altitude illness.
任何攀登到高海拔地区的人都可能患上高原病。更好地了解高原病与急性高原病（AMS）的较低发病率相关。本研究的目的是首次比较尼泊尔外国徒步旅行者和当地搬运工之间高原病的发病率及对其的了解程度。
在马切莫（4470米）的国际搬运工保护组织救援站完成访谈和问卷调查。参与者完成了路易斯湖急性高原病自我评估问卷。他们还被问及在面对高原病情况时的应对措施，以及他们对搬运工与徒步旅行者患高原病易感性的看法。同时还获取了攀登概况、年龄、性别、种族出身和家乡海拔等信息。
徒步旅行者（n = 131）的AMS发病率（21%对8%）显著高于搬运工（n = 92；P < 0.02）。与高地搬运工（n = 31）相比，低地搬运工（其家乡村庄海拔低于3050米，n = 61）的AMS发病率在数值上更高，但无显著差异（10%对3%）。大多数徒步旅行者和搬运工都认识到高原病的症状以及应采取的最恰当行动。尽管搬运工的AMS发病率较低，但约一半的人认为他们比徒步旅行者面临更大风险。
搬运工的AMS发病率较低，这可能归因于整个徒步旅行季节的反复攀登，或症状报告方面的差异。徒步旅行者和搬运工在应对高原病应采取的行动方面都表现出了适当的知识。
