Principal Component Analysis and Risk Factors for Acute Mountain Sickness upon Acute Exposure at 3700 m

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 11; p. e0142375
• Main Authors: Bian, Shi-Zhu, Jin, Jun, Zhang, Ji-Hang, Li, Qian-Ning, Yu, Jie, Yu, Shi-Yong, Chen, Jian-Fei, Yu, Xue-Jun, Qin, Jun, Huang, Lan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 10.11.2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Adult; Alcohol; Altitude; Altitude sickness; Altitude Sickness - diagnosis; Altitude Sickness - physiopathology; Anxiety; Cardiology; Cognitive ability; Correlation analysis; Diabetes; Doppler effect; Fatigue; Headaches; Health care; Health risk assessment; Heart rate; Heart Rate - physiology; Hospitals; Humans; Identification methods; Insomnia; Male; Medical climatology; Medical research; Mental depression; Mental work; Methods; Middle Aged; Models, Theoretical; Mood; Neurology; Oximetry; Oxygen; Oxygen content; Pain; Physical work; Physiology; Principal Component Analysis; Principal components analysis; Psychological factors; Regression analysis; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Sea level; Sleep; Sleep disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tuberculosis; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasound; Veins & arteries; Vertebrae; Vigor; Work capacity; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142375

We aimed to describe the heterogeneity in the clinical presentation of acute mountain sickness (AMS) and to identify its primary risk factors. The participants (n = 163) received case report form questionnaires, and their heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), echocardiographic and transcranial Doppler variables, ability to perform mental and physical work, mood and psychological factors were assessed within 18 to 22 hours after arriving at 3700 m from sea level (500 m) by plane. First, we examined the differences in all variables between the AMS-positive and the AMS-negative groups. Second, an adjusted regression analysis was performed after correlation and principal component analyses. The AMS patients had a higher diastolic vertebral artery velocity (Vd; p = 0.018), a higher HR (p = 0.006) and a lower SpO2. The AMS subjects also experienced poorer sleep quality, as quantified using the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS). Moreover, the AMS population exhibited more negative mood states, including anxiety, depression, hostility, fatigue and confusion. Five principal components focused on diverse aspects were also found to be significant. Additionally, more advanced age (p = 0.007), a higher HR (p = 0.034), a higher Vd (p = 0.014), a higher AIS score (p = 0.030), a decreased pursuit aiming capacity (p = 0.035) and decreased vigor (p = 0.015) were risk factors for AMS. Mood states play critical roles in the development of AMS. Furthermore, an elevated HR and Vd, advanced age, elevated AIS sores, insufficient vigor and decreased mental work capacity are independent risk factors for AMS.