Mountaineering and altitude sickness: a study of AMS prevalence among climbers of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia
Introduction: Adventure tourism has become one of Malaysia’s most attractive tourism demands, and mountain climbing is rapidly becoming a popular recreational sport. Exploring mountain adventures offers a dynamic experience, preserving this fascinating activity, yet the climbers are exposed to the r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia
2023
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/105579/1/2023011613044302_MJMHS_0830.pdf |
| _version_ | 1796984677902319616 |
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| author | Abdullah, Muhamad Aliff Yaakob, Sam Shor Nahar Ismail, Mohd Hafizal Samsudin, Shamsulariffin Farizan, Noor Hamzani |
| author_facet | Abdullah, Muhamad Aliff Yaakob, Sam Shor Nahar Ismail, Mohd Hafizal Samsudin, Shamsulariffin Farizan, Noor Hamzani |
| author_sort | Abdullah, Muhamad Aliff |
| collection | UPM |
| description | Introduction: Adventure tourism has become one of Malaysia’s most attractive tourism demands, and mountain climbing is rapidly becoming a popular recreational sport. Exploring mountain adventures offers a dynamic experience, preserving this fascinating activity, yet the climbers are exposed to the risk of altitude sickness, such as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of AMS and investigate the effects of high-altitude sickness on the climber profile associated with climbing at Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. Methods:. The Lake Louise acute mountain sickness LLS score questionnaire collected 95 climber’s data at four different altitudes. SPO2 and Pulse rate was (PR) measured using a finger pulse oximeter. In a cohort study, AMS was measured on day one at 1866m (1st station), 3622m (2nd station), and day two at 3810m (3rd station), and 4095m (4th station). Results: At the altitude of 1866 (Timpohon Gate), the prevalence of AMS was 0%, 30% at 3622m (Laban Rata), 34.7% at 3810m (Sayat-Sayat), and 37.9% at 4095m (Low’s Peak). The overall prevalence of AMS was 37.9% and the majority of AMS cases were moderate in severity and the LLS score is significant with Pulse Rate and peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SPO2). Conclusion: Concisely, this finding has triggered a need for consideration from multi agencies to enhance mountaineering guidance, especially for beginners or inexperienced hikers, for a suitable package for climbing attempts to reduce the incidence of AMS among Mount Kinabalu climbers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T11:23:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm.eprints-105579 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T11:23:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publisher | Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | upm.eprints-1055792024-01-29T02:08:04Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/105579/ Mountaineering and altitude sickness: a study of AMS prevalence among climbers of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia Abdullah, Muhamad Aliff Yaakob, Sam Shor Nahar Ismail, Mohd Hafizal Samsudin, Shamsulariffin Farizan, Noor Hamzani Introduction: Adventure tourism has become one of Malaysia’s most attractive tourism demands, and mountain climbing is rapidly becoming a popular recreational sport. Exploring mountain adventures offers a dynamic experience, preserving this fascinating activity, yet the climbers are exposed to the risk of altitude sickness, such as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of AMS and investigate the effects of high-altitude sickness on the climber profile associated with climbing at Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. Methods:. The Lake Louise acute mountain sickness LLS score questionnaire collected 95 climber’s data at four different altitudes. SPO2 and Pulse rate was (PR) measured using a finger pulse oximeter. In a cohort study, AMS was measured on day one at 1866m (1st station), 3622m (2nd station), and day two at 3810m (3rd station), and 4095m (4th station). Results: At the altitude of 1866 (Timpohon Gate), the prevalence of AMS was 0%, 30% at 3622m (Laban Rata), 34.7% at 3810m (Sayat-Sayat), and 37.9% at 4095m (Low’s Peak). The overall prevalence of AMS was 37.9% and the majority of AMS cases were moderate in severity and the LLS score is significant with Pulse Rate and peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SPO2). Conclusion: Concisely, this finding has triggered a need for consideration from multi agencies to enhance mountaineering guidance, especially for beginners or inexperienced hikers, for a suitable package for climbing attempts to reduce the incidence of AMS among Mount Kinabalu climbers. Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia 2023-01 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/105579/1/2023011613044302_MJMHS_0830.pdf Abdullah, Muhamad Aliff and Yaakob, Sam Shor Nahar and Ismail, Mohd Hafizal and Samsudin, Shamsulariffin and Farizan, Noor Hamzani (2023) Mountaineering and altitude sickness: a study of AMS prevalence among climbers of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 19 (1). pp. 10-16. ISSN 2636-9346 https://medic.upm.edu.my/jurnal_kami/volume_19_2023/mjmhs_vol19_no_1_january_2023-70882 10.47836/mjmhs19.1.3 |
| spellingShingle | Abdullah, Muhamad Aliff Yaakob, Sam Shor Nahar Ismail, Mohd Hafizal Samsudin, Shamsulariffin Farizan, Noor Hamzani Mountaineering and altitude sickness: a study of AMS prevalence among climbers of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia |
| title | Mountaineering and altitude sickness: a study of AMS prevalence among climbers of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia |
| title_full | Mountaineering and altitude sickness: a study of AMS prevalence among climbers of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | Mountaineering and altitude sickness: a study of AMS prevalence among climbers of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mountaineering and altitude sickness: a study of AMS prevalence among climbers of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia |
| title_short | Mountaineering and altitude sickness: a study of AMS prevalence among climbers of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia |
| title_sort | mountaineering and altitude sickness a study of ams prevalence among climbers of mount kinabalu malaysia |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/105579/1/2023011613044302_MJMHS_0830.pdf |
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