Canoui-Poitrine et al reported scores for predicting susceptibility to high-altitude illness. One score is for subjects with a previous history of high-altitude experience. The authors are from multiple institutions in France.
The exam includes physiologic monitoring during hypoxic exercise testing.
Parameters:
(1) planned daily altitude gain in meters per night
(2) geographical location
(3) regular endurance physical activity (>= 40 minutes of intense aerobic exercise >= 3 times per week)
(4) ventilatory response to hypoxia at exercise (HVRe) in L/min/kg
(5) cardiac response to hypoxia at exercise (HCRe) in beats per minute per percent
(6) history of severe high-altitude illness (SHAI)
(7) history of migraine
(8) age in years
Parameter
Finding
Points
altitude gain
<= 400 meters per night
0
> 400 meters per night
2
geographical location
Aconcagua, Mont Blanc, Ladakh-Zanskar
1
other
0
regular endurance
no
0
yes
0.5
HVRe
< 0.68
3
0.68 to 0.93
1
>= 0.94
0
HCRe
< 0.72
1
>= 0.72
0
history of SHAI
no
0
yes
2.5
history of migraine
no
0
yes
1.5
age
< 46 years
0.5
>= 46 years
0
total score =
= SUM(points for all of the parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 12
• A score > 5 is associated with high susceptibility to high-altitude illness.
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