engleski

CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE RISK FACTORS IN MILITARY PILOTS AND FLIGHT ENGINEERS

Introduction: Disorders of the circulatory system and in particular sudden cardiac or cerebral episodes constitute a potential risk to flight safety. Coronary artery disease is the most fequent cause of disability and permanent grounding of pilots and navigators, both military and civilian. Aim: To identify coronary artery disease risk factors in military pilots and flight engineers Methods: Data was collected during pilot's and engineer's obligatory medical check up in the Institute of Aviation Medicine from Nov. 2005. to June 2006. We examined following selected coronary artery disease risk factors: BMI, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, glucose level, trygliceride level, total cholesterol, total cholesterol to HDL ratio, blood pressure, family history, smoking history, physical activity and stress at work. The data was descriptively examined. Differencies in occurrance coronarny artery disease risk factors between observed groups were analised by Pearson χ ² ; test with Yates corection and p<0, 05 was consider significant. Results: Out of 79 participants in this study 24 were helicopter pilots, 10 helicopter flight engineers, 22 pilatus pilots, 8 canader pilots and 15 canader flight engineers. Mean age was 34 yrs. Only three participants (3/79) did not have any of selected coronary artery disease risk factors. In 66% participants, four or more risk factors were present. Additionally, seven and more risk factors were present in 25% of all partcipants Leading coronary artery disease risk factors in this study were waist to hip ratio, hypercholesterolemia, insufficient physical activity, undesirable total cholesterol to HDL ratio, waist circumference > 94 cm, stress at work, overweight, and smoking. Differencies in ocurrance coronary artery disease risk factors between observed grours were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Coronary artery disease risk factors are present in the population of military pilots and flight engineers in undesirable proportion. Leading coronary artery disease risk factors in this study were all modifiable. There is a need for thorough consideration of coronary artery disease risk factors in highly selected occupational group of military pilots and flight engineers. Also, there is a need for risk factor modification programs at a squadron's level. Dietery recommendation, physical exercise, weight reduction programs, smoking cessation programs stress management programs could reduce coronary artery disease risk factors and enhance health, flight ability and flight safety.

Coronary disease; risk factors; pilots

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