Physical activity and the incidence of acute mountain sickness in United States Antarctic Program participants following rapid transport to the South Pole: Antarctic Study of Altitude Physiology (ASAP).

Details

• Personal Author:
  Anderson PJ ; Beck KC ; Ceridon ML ; Johnson BD ; Johnson JB ; Miller AD ; OMalley KA
• Description:
  Background: Physical activity has been proposed as a risk factor for altitude illness however it is unclear whether the total amount or intensity of activity determines illness. Purpose: To examine activity patterns relative to the incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS) in United States Antarctic Program workers rapidly transported to the South Pole (SP, 9303 ft). Methods: 53 medically screened subjects (age=37+/-10yr, BMI=24+/-3 kg/m2) were transported by a 3 hour flight from McMurdo Station (sea level, SL) to the SP. Physical activity was monitored at SL and for 3 days after ascent using BodyMedia activity monitors. Symptoms of AMS were assessed using Lake Louise Questionnaires. Results: 53% of subjects displayed AMS between SP days 1-3 (23% day 1, 43% day 2, 15% day 3). Energy expenditure at SP was 3414+/-944, 3458+/-781, & 3543+/-869 Calories/day for days 1-3, respectively. Steps/day at SP was 12593+/-4926, 13124+/-4392, & 12966+/-4482 for days 1-3, respectively. Overall, more activity at higher intensity (>3 METS) on SP day 1 was associated with higher AMS incidence the next morning (p<0.05). Also, calorie expenditure with activity at >3 METS and time of activity at >6 METS in the first 24 hours after ascent independently increased the odds of AMS on SP day 2 (p<0.05). Conclusions: With rapid transport to altitude, moderate to intense activity within the first 24 hours of ascent contributes to the incidence of AMS. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biological Factors Environmental Monitoring Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Biological-effects; Biological-factors; Biological-monitoring; Biological-systems; Exposure-assessment; Physical-exercise; Physical-reactions; Physical-stress; Physiological-effects; Physiological-factors; Physiological-measurements; Physiological-response; Physiological-testing; Physiology; Statistical-analysis
• ISSN:
  0892-6638
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Alaska ; Minnesota ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OD - Office of the Director
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  24
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20036785
• Citation:
  FASEB J 2010 Apr; 24(Meeting Abstracts):990.14
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2010
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  The FASEB Journal. Experimental Biology 2010, April 24 - 28, 2010, Anaheim, California
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7dc847c09aedf140bc731323e8446b4703641ae07d6ad9e7b7238120dab30b8f7dcaa9b938d34d035f87873a0fe7fec262d5d13dcaf290925445e82b6de3b57d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/248065/cdc_248065_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 168.02 KB ]