Hazlerigg Antonia, Woods D R, Mellor A J
Defence Medical Services, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham Research Park, Birmingham, UK.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
J R Army Med Corps. 2016 Dec;162(6):465-469. doi: 10.1136/jramc-2015-000524. Epub 2015 Nov 24.
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a common problem of trekkers to high altitude. The UK military train at high altitude through adventurous training (AT) or as exercising troops. The ascent of Point Lenana at 4985 m on Mount Kenya is frequently attempted on AT. This study sought to establish the incidence of AMS within this population, to aid future planning for military activities at altitude.
A voluntary questionnaire was distributed to all British Army Training Unit Kenya based expeditions attempting to ascend Mount Kenya during the period from February to April 2014. The questionnaire included twice daily Lake Louise and Borg (perceived exertion scale) self-scoring. All expeditions were planned around a 5-day schedule, which included reserve time for acclimatisation, illness and inclement weather.
Data were collected on 47 participants, 70% of whom reached the summit of Point Lenana. 62% (29/47) self-reported AMS (defined as Lake Louise score (LLS) ≥3) on at least one occasion during the ascent, and 34% (10/29) suffered severe AMS (LLS ≥6). Those who attempted the climb within 2 weeks of arrival in Kenya had a higher incidence of AMS (12/15 (80%) vs 17/32 (53%), p=0.077). Participants recording a high Borg score were significantly more likely to develop AMS (16/18 vs 9/21, p=0.003).
This represents the first informative dataset for Mount Kenya ascents and altitude. The incidence of AMS during AT on Mount Kenya using this ascent profile is high. Adapting the current ascent profile, planning the ascent after time in country and reducing perceived exertion during the trek may reduce the incidence of AMS.
急性高原病（AMS）是徒步前往高海拔地区者常见的问题。英国军队通过冒险训练（AT）或作为训练部队在高海拔地区进行训练。经常有人尝试在冒险训练中攀登肯尼亚山海拔4985米的莱纳纳峰。本研究旨在确定该人群中急性高原病的发病率，以协助未来高海拔军事活动的规划。
向2014年2月至4月期间所有试图攀登肯尼亚山的肯尼亚英国陆军训练单位探险队发放了一份自愿调查问卷。问卷包括每日两次的路易斯湖评分和博格（自觉用力程度量表）自评。所有探险活动均按5天日程安排，其中包括用于适应环境、疾病和恶劣天气的预留时间。
收集了47名参与者的数据，其中70%到达了莱纳纳峰山顶。62%（29/47）的人在攀登过程中至少有一次自我报告患有急性高原病（定义为路易斯湖评分（LLS）≥3），34%（10/29）患有严重急性高原病（LLS≥6）。那些在抵达肯尼亚后2周内尝试攀登的人急性高原病发病率更高（12/15（80%）对17/32（53%），p=0.077）。记录到高博格评分的参与者患急性高原病的可能性显著更高（16/18对9/21，p=0.003）。
这是关于攀登肯尼亚山及高海拔情况的首个信息丰富的数据集。按照这种攀登模式在肯尼亚山进行冒险训练期间急性高原病的发病率很高。调整当前的攀登模式、在该国停留一段时间后规划攀登以及在徒步过程中降低自觉用力程度可能会降低急性高原病的发病率。
