Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39919099›Full record

ArticlePLOS global public health2025

Risk factors associated with high altitude sickness among travelers: A case control study in Himalaya district of Nepal.

Sishir Poudel, Laxman Wagle, Mukhiya Ghale, Tara Prasad Aryal, Sushan Pokharel, Binay Adhikari

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLOS global public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Sishir PoudelBP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5489-2142
Laxman WagleDepartment of Internal Medicine, Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5651-1246
Mukhiya GhaleMustang Hospital, Mustang, Nepal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0923-2379
Tara Prasad AryalMinistry of Health and Population, Kathmandu, Nepal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4587-8135
Sushan PokharelBP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8506-5337
Binay AdhikariTuberculosis Treatment Center, Pokhara, Nepal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8689-1447

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

High elevation adventures are popular among travelers; however, they carry significant health risks, such as altitude sickness. This study aims to identify risk factors associated with high altitude sickness among travelers to Mustang district. A health-facility-based, age-sex matched 1:1 case-control study was conducted in Mustang district hospital, Nepal. Measurements included Acute Mountain Sickness/High Altitude Cerebral Edema/High Altitude Pulmonary Edema assessment via LLS questionnaire, demographics, medical history, ascent rate, and prophylactic medicine intake. Data were collected between September and November, 2023 via predesigned structured questionnaire by trained medical officers in, and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Using binary logistic regression, the study tested potential risk factors associated with altitude sickness. Ethical approval was obtained from the NHRC, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. A total of 63 cases (individuals with altitude sickness) and 63 controls (without) were interviewed. The mean age of cases and controls was 48.5 years (SD = 16.5) and 48 years (SD = 16.9) respectively. 38 were rapid ascenders, and 88 were slow ascenders. Awareness of altitude sickness was reported by 65 individuals, with 36 taking prophylactic medication (Acetazolamide 125/250mg). Among cases, 8 experienced HACE, 42 had AMS, and 13 had HAPE. Rapid ascent (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]: 6.41, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 2.36-17.54), individuals with a previous history of illness (AOR: 10.20, 95% CI: 2.70-38.46), and failing to take prophylactic medication (AOR: 10.01, 95% CI: 1.896-10.680) were linked to an increased risk of altitude sickness. Our study highlights the critical role of ascent speed, previous history of illness, and use of prophylactic measures in development of altitude sickness.

Identifiers

PMID39919099
PMCPMC11805385

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.