Anxiety and Acute Mountain Sickness: Comparative Analysis of Active and Passive Ascents to ۳۶۰۰ Meters

Introduction: High-altitude exposure is increasingly common due to work and leisure activities. While physical factors contributing to acute mountain sickness (AMS) are well-documented, the role of psychological factors, particularly anxiety, remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate anxiety levels and acute mountain sickness during active and passive ascents.Methods: In a cross-sectional, counterbalanced study, ۱۲ healthy male participants aged ۲۰–۲۹ years, underwent both active (hiking) and passive (cable car) ascents to ۳۶۰۰ meters. Each ascent was separated by a two-month washout period. Anxiety levels were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y۱), and AMS symptoms were evaluated using the Lake Louise Score (LLS) at multiple time points post-ascent.Results: No significant difference in anxiety levels was observed between active and passive ascents (p=۰.۲۹۱). However, during active ascent, significantly higher anxiety levels were exhibited by participants who developed AMS compared to those who did not develop AMS (p=۰.۰۴۶). A positive correlation between anxiety scores and LLS was found during both active (r=۰.۶۸۱; p=۰.۰۱۵) and passive (r=۰.۵۷۸; p=۰.۰۴۹) ascents. Pre-ascent anxiety levels did not significantly correlate with LLS at altitude after active or passive ascents (p=۰.۳۸۹ and p=۰.۳۳۹).Conclusions: Anxiety levels post-ascent are associated with the occurrence of AMS, regardless of ascent method. Monitoring anxiety may aid in identifying individuals at risk for AMS, emphasizing the need for psychological assessments in high-altitude expeditions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Mountaineering ، Altitude sickness ، Lake Louise Questionnaire ، Environmental stress