Prevalence of disease spectrum and sick leave time associated with illness in helicopter pilots.

INTRODUCTION

The special working environment of helicopter pilots, such as high altitudes and high temperatures, may give them a special health status. There has been little research on helicopter pilot health issues in China. The aim of this study was to gain a clear understanding of the disease spectrum in helicopter pilots and to provide a scientific basis for disease control and prevention in this population.

METHODS

The annual aeromedical examination records and inpatient records of 516 helicopter pilots were collected by random sampling. The prevalence and sick leave time associated with each disease were computed. Spearman rank correlation analysis was employed to explore the relationship between prevalence and sick leave duration.

RESULTS

The organ systems with the highest prevalence of disease were the digestive system (32.36%), cardiovascular system (18.60%), and musculoskeletal system (12.40%), while those with the longest associated sick leave periods were the digestive system (574 d), musculoskeletal system (532 d), and nervous system (323 d). There were no significant correlations between prevalence and sick leave times of diseases in any system (r = 0.64). The diseases with the highest prevalence were fatty liver (9.88%), hyperlipidemia (6.98%), and polypoid lesion of the gallbladder (3.49%), while those with the longest sick leave times were ground syncope (157 d), chronic gastritis (145 d), and lumbar disc herniation (91 d).

CONCLUSION

Pilot health and performance were most affected by diseases of the digestive and musculoskeletal systems. Although not highly common, aero-related diseases (i.e., ground syncope) were also noteworthy for their long sick-leave times.