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. 2021 Oct-Dec;16(4):337-346.
doi: 10.4103/atm.atm_651_20. Epub 2021 Oct 26.

Efficacy of acetazolamide for the prophylaxis of acute mountain sickness: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis of randomized clinical trials

Daiquan Gao  1 , Yuan Wang  1 , Rujiang Zhang  2 , Yunzhou Zhang  1
Affiliations

Efficacy of acetazolamide for the prophylaxis of acute mountain sickness: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis of randomized clinical trials

Daiquan Gao et al. Ann Thorac Med. 2021 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

Background: Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a benign and self-limiting syndrome, but can progress to life-threatening conditions if leave untreated. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of acetazolamide for the prophylaxis of AMS, and disclose factors that affect the treatment effect of acetazolamide.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials comparing the use of acetazolamide versus placebo for the prevention of AMS were included. The incidence of AMS was our primary endpoint. Meta-regression analysis was conducted to explore factors that associated with acetazolamide efficacy. Trial sequential analyses were conducted to estimate the statistical power of the available data.

Results: A total of 22 trials were included. Acetazolamide at 125, 250, and 375 mg/bid significantly reduced incidence of AMS compared to placebo. TAS indicated that the current evidence was adequate confirming the efficacy of acetazolamide at 125, 250, and 375 mg/bid in lowering incidence of AMS. There was no evidence of an association between efficacy and dose of acetazolamide, timing at start of acetazolamide treatment, mode of ascent, AMS assessment score, timing of AMS assessment, baseline altitude, and endpoint altitude.

Conclusion: Acetazolamide is effective prophylaxis for the prevention of AMS at 125, 250, and 375 mg/bid. Future investigation should focus on personal characteristics, disclosing the correlation between acetazolamide efficacy and body mass, height, degree of prior acclimatization, individual inborn susceptibility, and history of AMS.

Keywords: Acetazolamide; acute mountain sickness; high altitude; prophylaxis; randomized controlled trials.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis flow diagram of literature search and study selection
Figure 2
Figure 2
Incidence of acute mountain sickness compared between acetazolamide and placebo groups
Figure 3
Figure 3
Efficacy of acetazolamide by dose
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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