Aim: To explore whether hypoxic response and breath holding at sea level could predict acute mountain sickness (AMS).
Methods: 113 men aged (19 +/- 1) years took part in this study. Blood oxygen saturation (SaO2), heart rate and blood pressure were measured during the course of breathing 10% O2 for 10 minutes and breath holding. Two days later after reaching Lasa (3 658 m altitude) by air, the symptomatic scores of AMS were evaluated. Then the relations between them were analyzed.
Results: The SaO2 reduced progressively and the heart rate speeded up, while the blood pressure represented increase at first and then decrease within 10 min during the short-term hypoxia. The heart rate was lower during short-term hypoxia in subjects who developed AMS than in subjects doing well. But significant reverse correlation existed only between AMS scores and heart rate at 7th min after hypoxic breathing (r = -0.176).
Conclusion: Limited information can be gained on AMS score by assessing physiological responses to short-term hypoxia and breath holding at sea level.