Smoking, acute mountain sickness and altitude acclimatisation: a cohort study.
BACKGROUND
The relationship between cigarette smoking and acute mountain sickness (AMS) is not clear.


OBJECTIVE
To assess AMS risk and altitude acclimatisation in relation to smoking.


METHODS
200 healthy non-smokers and 182 cigarette smokers were recruited from Han lowland workers. These were men without prior altitude exposure, matched for age, health status and occupation, who were transported to an altitude of 4525 masl.


METHODS
AMS, smoking habits, arterial saturation (SpO2), haemoglobin (Hb), lung function and mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAPm) were assessed upon arrival and after 3 and 6 months.


RESULTS
Compared with non-smokers, smokers had a lower incidence of AMS and lower AMS scores than non-smokers upon arrival; higher Hb and PAPm associated with lower SpO2 at 3 and 6 months at altitude; and lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s and maximal voluntary ventilation at 3 and 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking slightly decreases the risk of AMS but impairs long-term altitude acclimatisation and lung function during a prolonged stay at high altitude.
Physiological Research Group of the Ministry of Railroad, Beijing, People’s Republic of China. wutianyiqg@hotmail.com
Tian-Yi
TY
Wu
Shou-Quan
SQ
Ding
Jin-Liang
JL
Liu
Jian-Hou
JH
Jia
Zuo-Chun
ZC
Chai
Rui-Chen
RC
Dai
Ji-Zhui
JZ
Zhao
Qi De
QD
Tang
Bengt
B
Kayser
D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000502:physiology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology*