Association of Pre-existing Mental Health Conditions with Acute Mountain Sickness at Everest Base Camp.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Association of Pre-existing Mental Health Conditions with Acute Mountain Sickness at Everest Base Camp.

AU - Hüfner, Katharina

AU - Caramazza, Fabio

AU - Nöckler, Evelyn

AU - Stawinoga, Agnieszka Elzbieta

AU - Fusar-Poli, Paolo

AU - Bhandari, Sanjeeb S

AU - Basnyat, Buddha

AU - Brodmann-Maeder, Monika

AU - Strapazzon, Giacomo

AU - Tomazin, Iztok

AU - Zafren, Ken

AU - Brugger, Hermann

AU - Sperner-Unterweger, Barbara

PY - 2022/8/7

Y1 - 2022/8/7

N2 - Mental health disorders are common, but limited data are available regarding the number of people with a past medical history of psychiatric diagnoses going to high altitude. It is also unknown whether mental health conditions are associated with increased risk of acute mountain sickness (AMS). We analyzed data from a previous study at Everest Base Camp. Participants self-reported their past medical histories and history of substance use and had a brief history taken by a physician. AMS was assessed using the self-reported 2018 Lake Louise AMS Score. Eighty-five participants (66 men, 19 women, age 38+9 years) were included. When questioned by a physician 28 participants reported prior diagnoses or symptoms compatible with depression (23%), anxiety disorder (6%), posttraumatic stress disorder (1%), and psychosis/psychotic experiences (9%). The prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses in the past medical history was much lower in the self-reported data (2/85) than in the group questioned by a physician (28/85). Increased risks of AMS was associated with a past medical history of anxiety disorder (OR 22.7; 95%CI 2.3-220.6; p<0.001), depression (OR 3.6; 95%CI 1.2-11.2; p=0.022), and recreational drug use ever (OR 7.3; 95%CI 1.5- 35.5; p=0.006). Many people who go to HA have a past medical history of mental health conditions. These individuals have an increased risk of scoring positive for AMS on the Lake Louise Score compared to people without a history of mental health conditions.

AB - Mental health disorders are common, but limited data are available regarding the number of people with a past medical history of psychiatric diagnoses going to high altitude. It is also unknown whether mental health conditions are associated with increased risk of acute mountain sickness (AMS). We analyzed data from a previous study at Everest Base Camp. Participants self-reported their past medical histories and history of substance use and had a brief history taken by a physician. AMS was assessed using the self-reported 2018 Lake Louise AMS Score. Eighty-five participants (66 men, 19 women, age 38+9 years) were included. When questioned by a physician 28 participants reported prior diagnoses or symptoms compatible with depression (23%), anxiety disorder (6%), posttraumatic stress disorder (1%), and psychosis/psychotic experiences (9%). The prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses in the past medical history was much lower in the self-reported data (2/85) than in the group questioned by a physician (28/85). Increased risks of AMS was associated with a past medical history of anxiety disorder (OR 22.7; 95%CI 2.3-220.6; p<0.001), depression (OR 3.6; 95%CI 1.2-11.2; p=0.022), and recreational drug use ever (OR 7.3; 95%CI 1.5- 35.5; p=0.006). Many people who go to HA have a past medical history of mental health conditions. These individuals have an increased risk of scoring positive for AMS on the Lake Louise Score compared to people without a history of mental health conditions.

M3 - Article

SN - 1527-0297

JO - High Altitude Medicine & Biology

JF - High Altitude Medicine & Biology

ER -