Does a change in end-tidal carbon dioxide level predict high altitude mountain sickness?

BACKGROUND: It is postulated that lack of hypoxic ventilatory response is a predictor for AMS. End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO(2)) is an accurate, noninvasive surrogate measure of ventilation. OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine if changes in baseline ETCO(2) predicts the development of AMS. METHODS: This prospective cohort study took place in three separate high-altitude hiking treks. Subjects included a convenience sample of hikers. Predictor variable was change in ETCO(2) levels and outcome variable was AMS. Measurements of ETCO(2) levels were obtained at the base and repeated daily at various elevations and the summit of each hike. Concurrently, hikers were scored for AMS by a trained investigator. We utilized correlation coefficients and developed a linear regression model for analysis. RESULTS: 21 subjects in 3 separate hikes participated: 10 ascended to 19,341 ft over 7 days, 6 ascended to 8900 ft in 1 day, and 4 ascended to 11,006 ft in 1 day. Mean age was 40 years, 67% were males, mean daily elevation gain was 2150 ft, and 5 hikers developed AMS. The correlation coefficients for ETCO(2) and development of AMS were −0.46 (95%CI -0.33 to −0.57), and −0.77 (95%CI -0.71 to −0.83) for ETCO(2) and altitude. ETCO(2) predicted the development of symptoms better than the elevation with AUCs of 0.90 (95%CI 0.81–0.99) versus 0.64 (95%CI 0.45–0.83). An ETCO(2) measurement of ≤22 mmHg was 100% sensitive and 60% specific for predicting AMS. CONCLUSIONS: ETCO(2) was strongly correlated with altitude and moderately correlated with AMS and it was a better predictor than altitude.