Anxiety as a Risk Factor for Acute Mountain Sickness Among Young Chinese Men After Exposure at 3800 M: A cross‒sectional Study

Purpose: We aimed to explore whether anxiety is a risk factor for acute mountain sickness [AMS] in a young Chinese male population. Patients and Methods: A total of 143 young Chinese men with a median age of 23 years (IQR, 21– 25) were employed in the present study, and they were divided into the AMS+ and AMS- groups according to the Lake Louise AMS score [AMS-S] after exposure at 3800 m for two days. Participants’ pulse oximeter saturation [SpO 2 ] and heart rate [HR] were measured. AMS was evaluated using the AMS-S. The anxiety and sleep quality of the subjects were assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale [SAS] and the Athens Insomnia Scale [AIS], respectively. Outcomes were analysed using Spearman’s partial correlation and logistic regression analysis. Results: After two days of exposure at 3800 m, the overall prevalence of AMS was 54% in the whole group. The HR was significantly higher in the AMS+ group than in the AMS- group, as well as the SAS score and AIS score. A converse pattern was observed for SpO 2 . A significant difference was observed for the change in SAS and AIS score between the AMS+ and AMS- groups. Correlation analysis showed that AMS-S was positively correlated with SAS score, AIS score, HR, ΔSAS score, ΔAIS score, and ΔHR but negatively correlated with SpO 2 . AIS score was positively correlated with SAS score. After logistic regression analysis was adjusted for HR, SpO 2 , ΔAIS and ΔHR, SAS score ( OR =1.446, 95% CI 1.200– 1.744, p< 0.001), AIS score ( OR =1.216, 95% CI 1.033– 1.432) and ΔSAS score ( OR =1.158, 95% CI 1.012– 1.327) were identified as independent risk factors for AMS. Conclusion: The present study suggests that anxiety is a risk factor for AMS among young Chinese men, and poor sleep quality may partially mediate the association.