1. Morbidity Among Athletes Presenting for Medical Care During 3 Iterations of an Ultratrail Race in the Himalayas
- Author
-
Yogesh Subedi, Bikash Basyal, and Suvash Dawadi
- Subjects
Adult ,Diarrhea ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Hypertension, Pulmonary ,Marathon Running ,Altitude Sickness ,Medical care ,03 medical and health sciences ,Race (biology) ,0302 clinical medicine ,Altitude ,Nepal ,Informed consent ,Humans ,Medicine ,Medical diagnosis ,Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors ,biology ,business.industry ,Athletes ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,030208 emergency & critical care medicine ,Retrospective cohort study ,030229 sport sciences ,Effects of high altitude on humans ,biology.organism_classification ,Acetazolamide ,Family medicine ,Athletic Injuries ,Emergency Medicine ,Female ,business - Abstract
Introduction Although ultratrail races are increasing in popularity, there is a dearth of data regarding illnesses and medical care at these events. Data about injuries and illnesses for races taking place in the Himalayas, where the nearest medical facility can be hundreds of miles away, are even harder to find. This study aimed to describe the injuries and illnesses befalling the participants of a 7-stage 212 km (132 mi) trail race at high altitude. Methods Ethical approval was obtained from Nepal Research Health Council. A retrospective study of the record of medical encounters among the 100 participants competing in the Manaslu trail race in Nepal from 2014 to 2016 was performed. Diagnoses were classified into various categories. Informed consent was taken from all participants. Results Acute diarrhea was the most common ailment reported among the participants (18%), followed closely by musculoskeletal problems (17%). Altitude illness made up 6% of care provided. Approximately 35% of the athletes were using acetazolamide as prophylaxis for high altitude illnesses. The 1 case needing evacuation in the 3 iterations was high altitude pulmonary edema. Conclusions Ultratrail races at high altitude pose a challenge in terms of provision of medical care in a remote setting with limited resources. However, most of the illnesses are minor in nature and easily managed by the race doctor. Knowledge of common illnesses among travelers to the area can help aid in preparation and provision of proper care, especially in remote settings with limited resources.
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF