Abstract Presentations at the 2005 Wilderness Medical Society Meeting, Snowmass,
Colorado, July 23 to 27, 2005
Poster Presentation
Awareness of Altitude Illness among a Sample of Trekkers in Nepal
James L. Glazer, MD,
1
Matthew S. Siegel, MD,
2
Craig Edgar, MD
3
1
Division of Sports Medicine, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine.
2
Hasboro Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Brown University, Providence,
RI.
3
Department of Emergency Medicine, Providence Yakima Medical Center, Yakima, WA.
Introduction: Altitude sickness is a general term describing a heterogeneous group of
disorders, ranging in severity from headache or disordered sleep to life-threatening
pulmonary or cerebral edema. It is a common condition among travelers.
Objective: The objective of this study was to quantify awareness of altitude illness in a
sample of trekkers in Nepal and identify strategies for increasing knowledge in that
population.
Methods: High-altitude trekkers (n=65) were surveyed while on the Annapurna route.
Demographic data were gathered. Respondents were asked about their experience in
altitude environments. Participants answered clinical-vignette questions designed to test
their abilities to recognize and identify treatments for common symptoms of altitude
illness. An altitude awareness score was generated by tabulating correct answers to
questions. Scores were correlated with demographic data.
Results: Participants who scored in the highest 15 percent (n=8) had significantly more
experience in the field, averaging 5-10 years (P<0.05) and achieved higher average
altitudes on their treks of 5171m (P<0.05) than the lowest 25 percent of scorers.
Respondents with low scores (n=17) trekked to an average altitude of 4138m and tended
to be female, younger, and had fewer ascents above 10,000 feet (3048 m). 73 percent of
all participants wanted to learn more about altitude illness. 30 percent said they would
prefer to learn from the Internet, while 27 percent would ask a doctor.
Conclusion: This study suggests that a large population of at-risk high-altitude travelers
may be relatively naïve to the dangers of altitude sickness. Overall, respondents were
interested in learning more about altitude illness. Physicians and the internet have the
greatest opportunity to be sources of information.
