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Table 4 Critical appraisal of 18 studies on the prevalence of AMS

From: Sex-based differences in the prevalence of acute mountain sickness: a meta-analysis

Study and setting

Subjects (n)

Sample design

Sampling frame

Measures

Unbiased assessors

Response rate and refusers

Prevalence rate

Score and limitations

Murdoch et al. (1995) [4] Shyangboche, Asia

154

Guests

Mean 45.3 years

Guests staying at hotel

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

Microbiologist

Negative screens not assessed

97.5%

Refusers not described

89% of famales

69% of males

CI given for OR

Score 5

Poor sample size

Negative screens not assessed

Refusers not described

No CI given

Ziaee et al. (2003) [9] Mount Damavand, Asia

459

Trekkers

Mean 31.9 years

Trekkers around Mount Damavand in Iran

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

Pediatrist

Epidemiologist

Infectious diseases scientist

Negative screens not assessed

100%

Refusers not described

60.8% (279/459)

No CI given

Score 5

Negative screens not assessed

Refusers not described

No CI given

Wagner et al. (2008) [10] Mount Whitney, North America

886

Hikers

Mean 37.6 years

Trekkers on Mt.Whitney

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

Six interviewers

Negative screens not assessed

100%

Refusers not described

42.6% (337/886)

No CI given

Score 5

Negative screens not assessed

Refusers not described

No CI given

Jafarian et al. (2008) [27] Tehran, Asia

90

Volunteers

Mean 28.8 years

Individuals in a mountain hotel’s clinic

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

Neurologist

Anesthesiologist

Negative screens not assessed

100%

Refusers not described

37.8% (34/90)

CI given for subgroup

Score 5

Poor sample size

Negative screens not assessed

Refusers not described

Mairer et al. (2009) [22] Austrian Alps, Europe

422

Recreational hikers

Mean 37.4 years

Recreational hikers

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

Medical researcher

Negative screens not assessed

90%

Refusers described

16.6% (70/422)

No CI given

Score 6

Negative screens not assessed

No CI given

Wu et al. (2010) [28] Lhasa, Asia

222

Passengers

Mean 40.4 years

Qinghai–Tibet railroad passengers

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

Physiological Research Group of the Ministry of Railroad

Negative screens not assessed

100%

Refusers not described

27.0% (60/222)

No CI given

Score 4

Poor sample size

Negative screens not assessed

Refusers not described

No CI given

Mairer et al. (2010) [29] Alps, Europe

155

Mountaineers

Mean 34.7 years (group 1)

Mean 36.8 years (group 2)

Trekkers in both the Eastern and Western Alps

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

Sport Scientists

Medical researchers

Negative screens not assessed

100%

Refusers described

37.4% (58/155)

No CI given

Score 5

Poor sample size

Negative screens not assessed

No CI given

Wang et al. (2010) [11] Jade Mountain, Asia

1066

Hikers

Mean 40.2 years

Trekkers visiting Paiyun Lodge on Jade Mountain

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

Health workers

Medical researchers

and doctors

Negative screens not assessed

100%

Refusers not described

36.0% (384/1066)

No CI given

Score 5

Negative screens not assessed

Refusers not described

No CI given

Modesti et al. (2011) [8] Mount Everest Base Camp, Asia

47

Volunteers

Mean 40 years

Recruited volunteers

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

Medical researchers, doctors

statistician

Negative screens assessed

100%

Refusers not described

34.0% (16/47)

No CI given

Score 5

Poor sample size

Refusers not described

No CI given

Chen et al. (2012) [23] Jade Mountain, Asia

787

Random sample

Hikers

Mean 42 years

Trekkers on Jade Mountain

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

Doctors, Health Scientists

Negative screens not assessed

100%

Refusers not described

32.8% (258/787)

No CI given

Score 5

Negative screens not assessed

Refusers not described

No CI given

Maclnnis et al. (2013) [30] Gosainkunda,Asia

491

Pilgrims

Mean 36.7 years

Pilgrims travel to the Janai Purnima festival in Gosainkunda, Nepal (4380 m)

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

medical student or intern

Negative screens not assessed

100%

Refusers not described

34.0% (167/491)

CI given for RR

Score 6

Negative screens not assessed

Refusers not described

Mandolesi et al. (2014) [31] Mount Rosa, Europe

60

Mountaineers

Mean 36.4 years

Recruited Mountaineers

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

Medical researchers

Negative screens not assessed

100%

Refusers not described

40.0% (24/60)

No CI given

Score 4

Poor sample size

Negative screens not assessed

Refusers not described

No CI given

Hsu et al. (2015) [32] Jiaming Lake, Asia

91

Mountaineers

Mean 19.8 years

Mountaineers climbing to Jiaming Lake in Taiwan

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

Three trained emergency physicians

Negative screens not assessed

100%

Refusers not described

20.9% (19/91)

No CI given

Score 4

Poor sample size

Negative screens not assessed

Refusers not described

No CI given

Ren et al.(2015) [33] Lhasa, Asia

80

Volunteers

Mean 38.4 years

Recruited volunteers

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

Medical researcher

Negative screens not assessed

100%

Refusers not described

43.8% (35/80)

No CI given

Score 4

Poor sample size

Negative screens not assessed

Refusers not described

No CI given

Horiuchi et al. (2016) [34] Mount Fuji

345

Climbers

Mean 36.1 years

Climbers on Mt.Fuji

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

Medical researchers

Negative screens assessed

88.9%

Refusers not described

29.5% (98/345)

No CI given

Score 5

Poor response rate

Refusers not described

No CI given

Sánchez-Mascuñano et al. (2017) [35] Spain, Europe

302

Travellers

Mean 37.7 years

Travellers in Barcelona,Spain

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

Trained medical doctor

Negative screens not assessed

92.4%

Refusers described

25.8% (78/302)

95% CI 20.9–30.8

Score 7

Negative screens not assessed

Horiuchi et al. (2018) [12] Mount Fuji, Asia

1932

Climbers

Mean 37.4 years

Climbers on Mt.Fuji in Japan

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

Scientific researcher

Negative screens not assessed

100%

Refusers not described

31.6% (610/1932)

CI given for subgroup

Score 6

Negative screens not assessed

Refusers not described

J. Boos et al. (2018) [36] Himalayas, Asia

80

Military servicemen

Mean 32.1 years

Dhaulagiri region of the Himalayas

Lake Louise consensus AMS self assessment scoring system

AMS-C Scores

State-Trait-Anxiety-Score

Medical researchers

Negative screens not assessed

100%

Refusers not described

47.5% (38/80)

CI given for Independent predictors

Score 5

Poor sample size

Negative screens not assessed

Refusers not described

  1. AMS acute mountain sickness, CI confidence interval, RR relative risks, OR odds ratios. The critical appraisal was used to estimate the quality of the published articles, determine the validity and usefulness of prospective studies and improve the overall quality of the included articles