Rescue Emergencies Due to High-Altitude Illnesses Are Rare in Switzerland

Benedikt Gasser and Joel Stouder
Additional contact information
Benedikt Gasser: Departement fuer Sport, Bewegung und Gesundheit, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
Joel Stouder: Departement fuer Sport, Bewegung und Gesundheit, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 2, 1-7

Abstract: Background: Despite a potential high risk of acute mountain sickness (AMS) in the Swiss Alps, there is a lack of analyses concerning its relevance over longer periods. In consequence, the aim of this study is to analyze the prevalence of AMS in comparison to other causes of mountain emergencies in recent years in Switzerland. Material and Methods: Based on the central registry of mountain emergencies of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), all cases in the period between 2009 and 2020 were analyzed for AMS including the most severe forms of high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). Emergencies were assessed for the severity of the event with a National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) score. Results: From a total of 4596 high-altitude mountaineering emergencies identified in the observational period, a total number of 352 cases of illnesses were detected. Detailed analysis revealed 85 cases of AMS, 5 cases of HAPE, and 1 case of HACE. The average altitude was 3845 ± 540 m. Most cases were in the canton of Valais, especially in the Monte Rosa region and the mountains of the Mischabel group (Täschhorn, Dom, Südlenz, Nadelhorn, Hohberghorn). There were only three deaths related to high-altitude illnesses; all the other events could be identified as moderate to severe but not life-threatening. Discussion: An emergency due to AMS that requires rescue is unlikely in the Swiss Alps. This does not imply that AMS is not a concern. However, the facts that the maximal altitude is relatively low and that fast self-descents often seem possible probably minimize the likelihood that mountaineers with symptoms contact emergency services.

Keywords: high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE); high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE); high-altitude accidents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/2/865/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/2/865/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:2:p:865-:d:723825

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().