Prediction of acute mountain sickness

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Abstract
Two groups of New Zealanders (23 in 1992 and 17 in 1993) went to Nepal, ascending to a maximum of 5640 m. Before they left they completed a questionnaire on illnesses related to mountain sickness and had their breath holding times and responses to hyperventilation and pharyngeal stimulation measured. Breath holding was measured in seconds with subjects seated after a maximal inspiration. The gag reflex was assessed by touching the posterior pharynx with a wooden spatula and scoring the response as 0 if there was no response, 1 if the response was mild, 2 if it was moderate, and 3 if it was severe. The subjects also hyperventilated maximally for one minute and assessed their own response on this four point scale.