PROCEDURES FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF ACUTE MOUNTAIN-SICKNESS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 54  (12) , 1063-1073
Abstract
Although acute mountain sickness (AMS) has been studied for well over a century, a standard measure or index of the degree of illness for use in experimental research does not exist. This paper outlines a definition and procedures for an operational measurement of AMS using the Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire (ESQ). After 58 men completed over 650 ESQ during a stay of 1-3 wk atop Pike''s Peak [USA] (4300 m), factor analysis produced 9 distinct symptom groups, with 2 factors representing AMS. The first factor contains symptoms indicative of cerebral hypoxia and is labeled AMS-C. The second reflects respiratory distress and is called AMS-R. Signal detection theory was used to establish a criterion score value for each factor. Standard deviation values were used to derive indices of sickness severity. Discussion is given to the possible relationships between the 2 types of AMS and the more serious conditions of cerebral and pulmonary edema.