Leon-Velarde et al reported the Qinghai CMS score for evaluating a patient for chronic high altitude disease. The statement was delivered by an ad hoc committee formed by the International Society for Mountain Medicine at the VI World Congress on Mountain Medicine and High Altitude Physiology held in 2004 in Xining, China (which is in Qinghai Province).
Parameters:
(1) breathlessness and/or palpitations
(2) sleep disturbances
(3) cyanosis
(4) vein dilatation
(5) paresthesias (burning of hands and feet)
(6) headache
(7) tinnitus
(8) hemoglobin and gender
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
breathlessness/palpitations |
none |
0 |
|
|
mild |
1 |
|
|
moderate |
2 |
|
|
severe |
3 |
|
sleep disturbances |
usual |
0 |
|
|
did not sleep as well |
1 |
|
|
poor |
2 |
|
|
unable to sleep at all |
3 |
|
cyanosis |
none |
0 |
|
|
mild |
1 |
|
|
moderate |
2 |
|
|
severe |
3 |
|
vein dilatation |
none |
0 |
|
|
mild |
1 |
|
|
moderate |
2 |
|
|
severe |
3 |
|
paresthesias |
none |
0 |
|
|
mild |
1 |
|
|
moderate |
2 |
|
|
severe |
3 |
|
headache |
none |
0 |
|
|
mild |
1 |
|
|
moderate |
2 |
|
|
severe (incapacitating) |
3 |
|
tinnitus |
none |
0 |
|
|
mild |
1 |
|
|
moderate |
2 |
|
|
severe |
3 |
|
hemoglobin and gender |
male and hemoglobin < 21 g/dL |
0 |
|
|
male and hemoglobin >= 21 g/dL |
3 |
|
|
female and hemoglobin < 19 g/dL |
0 |
|
|
female and hemoglobin >= 19 g/dL |
3 |
where:
• The scoring for hemoglobin and gender has the hemoglobin for males awarded 0 points if 18.01 to 20.99 g/dL. For females 0 points is given for 16.01 to 18.99 g/dL. Scoring for lower values not given.
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 24
• The higher the score the worse the mountain sickness.
|
Score |
CMS Severity |
|
<= 5 |
absent |
|
6 to 10 |
mild |
|
11 to 14 |
moderate |
|
>= 15 |
severe |
Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Pulmonology, Neurology
ICD-10: ,
