title: Acute mountain sickness in Iranian trekkers around Mount Damavand (5671 m) in Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many trekkers up Mount Damavand run the risk of developing acute mountain sickness (AMS); however, not much is documented concerning the incidence of AMS and its related factors within this population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We designed this study to determine the incidence and risk factors for AMS in trekkers around Mount Damavand in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Symptoms of AMS and the contributing factors were assessed in the course of 6 weeks in summer 2000. Standard Lake Louise questionnaires were administered to 459 subjects, all of whom were trekkers. The questionnaires were filled out in 3 steps, first at 2900 m and then during both ascent and descent at 4200 m.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall incidence of AMS was 60.8%. The incidence was higher in residents who lived at an altitude less than 600 m, amateur trekkers, those with a previous history of AMS, those with a history of AMS at ascent to Damavand, and those with night ascents (6 PM to midnight). Incidence was weakly dependent on rate of ascent (from 2900 m up to 4200 m in less than 4 hours) and sleep at 4200 m. No significant association was found between AMS and sex, age, body mass index, height, weight, smoking, weight of knapsacks, or the spent time in the shelter (at 4200 m).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the incidence of AMS is high in Iranian trekkers ascending Mount Damavand. Some of the contributing factors are preventable, so we suggest considering an educational program for trekkers to high altitudes in Iran.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sport Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ziaee@sina.tums.ac.ir
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ziaee
authors.forename: Masud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yunesian
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ahmadinejad
authors.forename: Farzin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Halabchi
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kordi
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alizadeh
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Afsharjoo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000531:Altitude; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009051:Mountaineering; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires