The hydration status of backpackers at high altitude.
The purpose of the descriptive study was to determine the hydration status of recreational backpackers (n = 201) hiking at altitudes between 7,500 and 14,000 feet. Urine specific gravity was used to document the level of hydration of each subject entering or leaving the Bridger-Teton Wilderness. Demographic, risk, and knowledge factors were also obtained from the sample. Both pre-hike and post-hike subjects were dehydrated; pre-hike mean specific gravity was 1.018, and the post-hike mean was 1.023, showing a significant difference (t = -4.671, p < 0.0000). A small subset group (n = 10) entered both pre- and post-hike data and the findings were similar to the large group, showing a significant increase in specific gravity post-hike (t = -4.881, p < 0.0009). Interestingly, 24% (n = 130) of the post-hike males presented with hematuria.
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Eastern Aleutian Tribes, Inc., Akutan, Alaska, USA.
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000413:Alaska; D000531:Altitude; D003625:Data Collection; D003681:Dehydration / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004326:Drinking; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009051:Mountaineering / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*