Comparison of disease spectrum in the annual physical examination of pilots

Abstract

Objective To compare the disease spectrums of helicopter pilots and fighter pilots in 2012,to investigate the difference,and thus to provide scientific basis for aeromedical service.Methods Six hundred and fifty-two helicopter pilots of Army and 830 fighter pilots of Air Force,who attended the annual physical examination,were cluster randomly selected and recruited into this study.The prevalence and age-specific (20-29 yr,30-39 yr and older than 40 yr) prevalence of the top 10 diseases in helicopter pilots and fighter pilots were calculated and compared.The proportion of each disease system in helicopter pilots and fighter pilots was calculated and compared.Results ① Hyperlipidemia,fatty liver,hyperuricemia and gall bladder polyps were the top four most prevalent diseases both in helicopter pilots and fighter pilots,with the incidence in helicopter pilots was respectively 15.64％,14.57％,6.44％ and 5.37％,and in fighter pilots was respectively 24.22％,19.85％,14.08％ and 9.17％.②Hyperlipidemia and fatty liver were the top two diseases in age-specific disease spectrum both in helicopter pilots and fighter pilots.③Digestive diseases and endocrine system diseases ranked the top two in the disease spectrums of helicopter pilots and fighter pilots,with the incidence of 45.66％ and 26.91％ in helicopter pilots,and 39.69％ and 28.37％ in fighter pilots.Conclusions The main system diseases of helicopter pilots and fightcr pilots are similar,both are the digestive system disease and endocrine system disease,and hyperlipidemia and fatty liver rank the top two diseases.Endocrine system disease has become the main diseases that threaten the health of Army helicopter pilots. Key words: Prevalence; Physical examination; Epidemiologic studies; Occupational exposure; Pilots