title: The role of menopause in the development of chronic mountain sickness.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the role of menopause in the appearance of the physiopathological sequence that leads to chronic mountain sickness (CMS) in a high-altitude female population. The females studied are 30-54 yr old (n = 152) and have permanent residence in Cerro de Pasco (Pasco, Peru; 4,300 m). The sample was divided into postmenopausal and premenopausal groups for comparison. Blood oxygen saturation (SaO2), excessive erythrocytosis [EE, measured by the level of hematocrit (Het)], peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR), and a score that represents the main signs and symptoms of CMS (CMSscore) were measured. Postmenopausal women had higher Het (50.2 +/- 4.04 vs. 47.4 +/- 4.13%, P < 0.001), lower SaO2 (81.9 +/- 4.12 vs. 84.7 +/- 3.14%, P < 0.001) and PEFR values (489 +/- 101 vs. 534 +/- 90 l/min, P < 0.02), and slightly higher CMSscore (19.1 +/- 3.37 vs. 17.9 +/- 3.48, P < 0.06) than premenopausal women. The prevalence of women with EE (EE = Hct > 56%) was found to be 8.8%. Forty-five percent of the postmenopausal subjects presented a high CMSscore (> 21), whereas only 22% of the premenopausal subjects presented this high value (P < 0.02). We can therefore conclude that menopause may represent a contributing factor for the development of CMS.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Instituto de Investigaciones de la Altura, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: León-Velarde
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Idiáquez
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaffo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Córdova
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Durand
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Monge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D011086:Polycythemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen