Prevalence and knowledge about acute mountain sickness in the Western Alps

To assess the prevalence of acute mountain sickness (AMS) in 1370 mountaineers at four different altitudes in the Western Alps. We also examined the influence of potential risk factors and the knowledge about AMS on its prevalence.

In this observational cross-sectional study AMS was assessed on the day of ascent by the Lake Louise score (LLS, cut-off ≥3, version 2018) and the AMS-Cerebral (AMS-C) score of the environmental symptom questionnaire (cut-off ≥0,70). The latter was also obtained in the next morning. Knowledge regarding AMS and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) and the potential risk factors for AMS were evaluated by questionnaires.

On the day of ascent, the prevalence of AMS assessed by the LLS and AMS-C score was 5.8 and 3.9% at 2850 m, 2.1 and 3.1% at 3050 m, 14.8 and 10.1% at 3650 m, and 21.9 and 15% at 4559 m, respectively. The AMS prevalence increased overnight from 10.1 to 14.5% and from 15 to 25.2% at 3650 m and 4559 m, respectively, and was unchanged at 2850 m and 3050 m. A history of AMS, higher altitude, lower degree of pre-acclimatization, and younger age were identified as risk factors for developing AMS. Slow ascent was weakly associated with AMS prevalence, and sex and knowledge about AMS and HACE were indistinct.

AMS is common at altitudes ≥ 3650 m and better knowledge about AMS and HACE was not associated with less AMS in mountaineers with on average little knowledge.