RELATIONSHIP OF MOUNTAIN-SICKNESS TO PHYSICAL-FITNESS AND EXERCISE INTENSITY DURING ASCENT

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether susceptibility to acute mountain sickness (AMS) and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is related to differences of physical fitness and/or the level of exe rcise during ascent. Work capacity at a heart rate of 170 min-1 (PWC17 0) was assessed on a bicycle ergometer prior to high-altitude exposure , and the heart rate was continuously registered during the ascent fro m 3610 to 4559 m in 41 mountaineers. During the subsequent stay of 3 d ays at 4559 m, 12 subjects developed AMS, 13 subjects showed radiograp hic evidence of HAPE, and 16 subjects remained without significant ill ness. PWC170 (group means between 238 and 247 W) and hear-t rate durin g ascent (group means between 134 and 141 min-1) did not significantly differ between these groups. PWC170 correlated negatively with two in dependent symptoms scores (clinical score, environmental symptom quest ionnaire) on day 3 at 4559 m, whereas heart rate during ascent correla ted positively only with clinical score on days 2 and 3 at 4559 m. Cor relations, however, were minor, with correlation coefficients of r = 0 .32-0.43 (p < 0.05-0.01). These results indicate that physical fitness or exercise intensity during ascent were of minor importance for the development of AMS and HAPE in our subjects.