Journal of Epidemiology
Volume 22, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 136-143

Ecological study of community-level factors associated with chronic mountain sickness in the young male Chinese immigrant population in Tibet (Article) (Open Access)

Li X. , Pei T. , Xu H. , Tao F. , You H. , Liu Y. , Gao Y.*
  • a Department of Health Service, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine, Ministry of Education, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine, PLA, Chongqing, China
  • b Department of Health Service, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine, Ministry of Education, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine, PLA, Chongqing, China
  • c Department of Radiology, Nanchong Central Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
  • d Department of Health Service, Urumqi General Hospital of Lanzhou Military District, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
  • e Department of Health Service, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine, Ministry of Education, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine, PLA, Chongqing, China
  • f Department of Health Service, Ngari Military Subdistrict, Tibet, China
  • g Department of Health Service, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine, Ministry of Education, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine, PLA, Chongqing, China

Abstract

Background: Chronic mountain sickness (CMS) is a complex medical and public health problem that seriously affects highland immigrants. This study investigated relationships between community-level factors and CMS. Methods: In this ecological study, data on age- and ethnicity-standardized CMS rates, community factors, and controlling variables were obtained from 2009-2010 surveys of 108 Chinese highland military units. Associations among variables were examined using correlation tests, analyses of covariance, and logistic regression. Results: The rate of CMS ranged from 1.25% to 36.58% (mean: 14.65%, standard deviation: 8.15%) among military units. Partial correlation tests indicated that medicine expenditure was strongly negatively correlated with CMS (r = -0.267, P = 0.005). Analyses of covariance indicated that communities with oxygen-generating systems had lower CMS rates (F = 9.780, P = 0.002), whereas urban location (F = 5.442, P = 0.022) and construction duty (F = 4.735, P = 0.011) were associated with higher CMS rates. The multiple logistic model showed that medicine expenditure (OR = 0.897, P = 0.022), oxygen-generating system (available vs unavailable: OR = 0.827, P = 0.020), community type (urban vs rural: OR = 1.228, P = 0.019), and occupation (construction vs logistics: OR = 1.240, P = 0.029) were significantly associated with CMS. Conclusions: We identified community-level, health-related factors that were associated with CMS among young male immigrants. To alleviate the burden of CMS in these highland immigrant populations, further investment should be made in medicine and oxygen-generating systems, and preventive interventions should be implemented among construction workers. Further research should investigate the effects of urbanization on CMS development. © 2012 by the Japan Epidemiological Association.

Author Keywords

Community factor Immigrant Tibet Chronic mountain sickness High altitude

Index Keywords

China Tibet demography Altitude Sickness human altitude disease statistics chronic disease ethnology Residence Characteristics Cross-Sectional Studies Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants risk factor Risk Factors prevalence Article adult migration
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84862296418&doi=10.2188%2fjea.JE20110058&partnerID=40&md5=884cf1299bdfd17211d5a11809a27017
DOI: 10.2188/jea.JE20110058
ISSN: 09175040
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English