Back to Search
Start Over
Efficacy of low-dose acetazolamide (125 mg BID) for the prophylaxis of acute mountain sickness: a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
- Source :
-
High altitude medicine & biology [High Alt Med Biol] 2003 Spring; Vol. 4 (1), pp. 45-52. - Publication Year :
- 2003
-
Abstract
- The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of low-dose acetazolamide (125 mg twice daily) for the prevention of acute mountain sickness (AMS). The design was a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in the Mt. Everest region of Nepal between Pheriche (4243 m), the study enrollment site, and Lobuje (4937 m), the study endpoint. The participants were 197 healthy male and female trekkers of diverse background, and they were evaluated with the Lake Louise Acute Mountain Sickness Scoring System and pulse oximetry. The main outcome measures were incidence and severity of AMS as judged by the Lake Louise Questionnaire score at Lobuje. Of the 197 participants enrolled, 155 returned their data sheets at Lobuje. In the treatment group there was a statistically significant reduction in incidence of AMS (placebo group, 24.7%, 20 out of 81 subjects; acetazolamide group, 12.2%, 9 out of 74 subjects). Prophylaxis with acetazolamide conferred a 50.6% relative risk reduction, and the number needed to treat in order to prevent one instance of AMS was 8. Of those with AMS, 30% in the placebo group (6 of 20) versus 0% in the acetazolamide group (0 of 9) experienced a more severe degree of AMS as defined by a Lake Louise Questionnaire score of 5 or greater (p = 0.14). Secondary outcome measures associated with statistically significant findings favoring the treatment group included decrease in headache and a greater increase in final oxygen saturation at Lobuje. We concluded that acetazolamide 125 mg twice daily was effective in decreasing the incidence of AMS in this Himalayan trekking population.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Double-Blind Method
Female
Headache prevention & control
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Oxygen blood
Prospective Studies
Pulmonary Edema prevention & control
Surveys and Questionnaires
Treatment Outcome
Acetazolamide administration & dosage
Altitude Sickness prevention & control
Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors administration & dosage
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1527-0297
- Volume :
- 4
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- High altitude medicine & biology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 12713711
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1089/152702903321488979