Obesity: Associations with Acute Mountain Sickness

19 August 2003 | Volume 139 Issue 4 | Pages 253-257

Background: Although few retrospective studies of high altitude have reported that obesity might be associated with the development of acute mountain sickness (AMS), this association has not been studied prospectively.

Objective: To determine whether obesity is associated with the development of AMS.

Design: Obese and nonobese men were compared at a simulated altitude of 3658 m (12 000 ft).

Setting: 24 hours in a hypobaric environmental chamber.

Participants: 9 obese and 10 nonobese men.

Measurements: Percentage body fat (by hydrostatic weighing), Lake Louise AMS score, and SaO ₂ level (by pulse oximetry) were measured.

Results: Average AMS scores increased more rapidly with time spent at simulated high altitudes for obese men than for nonobese men (P < 0.001). The response of SaO ₂ with exposure differed between nonobese and obese men. After 24 hours in the altitude chamber, seven obese men (78%) and four nonobese men (40%) had AMS scores of 4 or more.

Conclusion: Obesity seems to be associated with the development of AMS, which may be partly related to greater nocturnal desaturation with altitude exposure.

Editors' Notes Context A few small retrospective studies show associations between obesity and acute mountain sickness. Contribution This 24-hour study involving 9 obese and 10 nonobese men was conducted in a decompression chamber that simulated a rapid ascent to an altitude of 3658 m (12 000 ft). Obese men more often developed symptoms of mountain sickness and had lower nocturnal oxygen saturation values than did nonobese men. Cautions Although this elegant, short experiment suggests that obese men were more susceptible to acute mountain sickness, the study involved few people, simulated a steady rate of ascent, and did not simulate physical activity with altitude exposure. –The Editors

 

Author and Article Information

From the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, and the Institute of High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai Medical College, Xining, Qinghai, China.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank all laboratory staff, hypobaric chamber staff, and biochemistry laboratory technicians for their contributions and support.

Grant Support: By the U.S. Wilderness Medical Society and the American Lung Association (CI-015-N).

Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest: None disclosed.

Requests for Single Reprints: Tony G. Babb, PhD, Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, 7232 Greenville Avenue, Suite 435, Dallas, TX 75231.

Current Author Addresses: Dr. Ri-Li: Institute of High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai Medical College, 16 Kunlun Road, Xining, Qinghai 180001, China.

Mr. Chase, Ms. Witkowski, Ms. Wyrick, and Drs. Stone, Levine, and Babb: Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, 7232 Greenville Avenue, Suite 435, Dallas, TX 75231.

Author Contributions: Conception and design: G. Ri-Li, B.D. Levine, T.G. Babb.

Analysis and interpretation of the data: G. Ri-Li, B.D. Levine, T.G. Babb.

Drafting of the article: G. Ri-Li, T.G. Babb.

Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: B.D. Levine, T.G. Babb.

Final approval of the article: B.D. Levine, T.G. Babb.

Provision of study materials or patients: B.L. Wyrick, J.A. Stone, B.D. Levine, T.G. Babb.

Statistical expertise: B.D. Levine, T.G. Babb.

Obtaining of funding: G. Ri-Li, B.D. Levine, T.G. Babb.

Administrative, technical, or logistic support: P.J. Chase, S. Witkowski, J.A. Stone, B.D. Levine, T.G. Babb.

Collection and assembly of data: P.J. Chase, S. Witkowski, B.D. Levine, T.G. Babb.