Testing individual risk of acute mountain sickness at greater altitudes

Abstract

The assessment of an individual's degree of acclimatization to altitude is difficult. This is particularly applicable to military operations that have to be performed at altitude. This study describes a new and simple test that allows for the determination of an individual's risk for high-altitude illness at higher altitudes. The prediction is based on the lowest oxygen saturation (SaO2) found during an uphill run at high altitude (11,060 ft [3,371 m]), combined with the time needed to complete the run. The test results were compared against the severity of high-altitude symptomatology on the summit of Mont Blanc (15,762 ft [4.808 m|). The main outcome was the significant correlation between time as well as SaO2 and the severity of high-altitude symptomatology on the summit of Mont Blanc. The newly developed performance test allows, at a "safe" altitude, the prediction of an individual's risk of developing high altitude illness if they continue to ascend. It allows the determination of the best acclimatized subjects within a group, for example, before a military mission at greater altitude. Reprint & Copyright © by Association of Military Surgeons of U.S., 2009.