Ascent schedules,acute altitude illness,and altitude acclimatization:Observations on the Yushu Earthquake

作     者：Wu Tianyi Hou Shike Li Shuzhi Li Wenxiang Gen Deng 

作者机构：High Altitude Medical Research Institute High Altitude Medical Research CenterTibet University Chinese International Search and Rescue Team Tibet Military General Hospital of PLA Qinghai Red Cross Hospital Qinghai Vascular-Cerebral Hospital 

出 版 物：《Engineering Sciences》 (中国工程科学（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2013年第11卷第2期

页      面：17-28页

学科分类：070801[理学-固体地球物理学] 07[理学] 08[工学] 0708[理学-地球物理学] 081601[工学-大地测量学与测量工程] 0816[工学-测绘科学与技术] 

基　　金："973"National Key Basic Research and Development Program(No.2012CB518202) Project of Qinghai Development of Science and Technology(No.2011-N-150) 

主　　题：Yushu Earthquake ascent rate acute altitude illness high altitude acclimatization preventive strategies 

摘      要：During the Yushu Earthquake on April 14,2010,a large number of rescuers from sea level or lowlands ascended to the quake areas very rapidly or rapidly less than 24 h. However,Yushu Earthquake is the highest quake in the world at altitudes between 3 750 m and 4 878 m where is a serious hypoxic environment. A high incidence of acute altitude illness was found in the unacclimatized rescuers;the mountain rescue operation changed as rescue the rescuers. Lesson from the Yushu Earthquake is that the occurrence of acute altitude illness may be closely related to the ascent schedules. This prompted us to study the relationship between ascent rate and the incidence and severity of acute altitude illness;five different groups were compared. The first group was 42 sea level male young soldiers who ascended to quake area very rapidly within 8 h at 4 000 m;the second group was 48 sea level male young soldiers who ascended to 4 000 m rapidly less than 18 h;the third group was 66 acclimatized medical workers from 2 261 m who ascended to 4 000 m rapidly within 12 h;the fourth group was 56 Tibetan medical workers from 2 800 m who ascended to 4 000 m rapidly within 8 h;the fifth group was 50 male sea level workers who ascended to 4 000 m gradually over a period of 4 d. The results showed that the sea level rescuers ascended to 4 000 m very rapidly or rapidly had the highest incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS) with the greatest AMS scores and the lowest arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2);the sea level workers ascended to 4 000 m gradually had moderate incidence of AMS with moderate AMS scores and SaO2 values;whereas the acclimatized and adapted rescuers had the lowest incidence of AMS,lowest AMS scores and higher SaO2;especially none AMS occurred in Tibetan rescuers. AMS score is inversely related to the ascent rate (r=-0.24,p 0.001). Additionally,acute altitude illness is significantly influenced by altitude acclimatization. The ascent rate is inversely re- lated to the perio