Study on acute mountain sickness arid tire psychological factors in the relief force during the initial phase of acute plateau exposure

Abstract

Objective To investigate the acute mountain sickness of servicemen during ＂4. 14＂ Yushu earthquake relief work, and analyze the related factors of the sickness at the initial phase of acute plateau exposure. Methods 162 servicemen were sampled randomly and clusteringly from Yushu relief force during the initial phase of acute plateau exposure. According to the ＂Diagnosis and treatment principles of the acute mountain sickness＂ ,the prevalence of the acute mountain sickness was judged among the servicemen. The scales of general status invested score （GSIS） ,the self-rating symptom scale （SCL-90） and the life event scale（LES） were used to investigate the related factors of the acute mountain sickness. Results 65.4% of servicemen in earthquake relief work had acute mountain sickness,including mild 17.3% ,moderate 31.5% and severe 16.7%. The occurrences of pant, palpitation, dizziness,lips cyanosis and headache, were higher than other symptoms, accounting for 83.6% , 79.1% ,73.1% ,61.2% and 58.2%. The positive significant correlation was found among the symptoms score of acute mountain sickness and age,marriage, trauma history, negative events, and the most genes （ somatization, obsession,depression, anxiety, hostility, fear, paranoia, appetite, sleep） and total score of SCL-90 （ r = 0. 188 - 0. 619, P 〈0.01 or0.05 ）. There was negative significant correlation among the symptoms score and the personality and social support （ r = - 0. 254, P 〈 0.01 ; r = - 0.285, P 〈 0.01 ）. Regression analysis showed that the somatization, personality, marriage, social support and age were more important than other factors, Conclusion Attention should be paid to the acute mountain sickness in the relief force during the initial phase of acute plateau exposure, and the morbidity rate of acute mountain sickness were correlated with the somatization, personality, marriage, social support and age. Key words: Plateau ; Earthquake relief work ; Serviceman; Acute mountain sickness