Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among UK commercial pilots

Abstract

This study is one of the largest ever completed to examine the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among commercial aircrew. A retrospective cross-sectional study comparing prevalence of CVD risk factors age, body mass index (BMI), overweight and obesity, current smoking status, hypertension, and diabetes among commercial aircrew and the UK general population. A total of 14,379 subject records were eligible for the study. The age-sex group mean BMI was significantly lower in almost all pilot age groups compared to the general population. Overweight age-sex group prevalence was significantly higher in the <25, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64 age groups for male pilots, and lower for female pilots in the 25-34 and 45-54 age groups. Male and female pilots had significantly lower age-sex-group prevalence of obesity and current smoking compared to the general population. For hypertension, the male <25 and 35-44 year age groups had significantly higher prevalence, and the 45-54 and 55-64 year age groups had significantly lower prevalence than the general population. Age-standardised mean BMI and prevalence of overweight and hypertension were not significantly different from the highest income quintile of the general population. Age-standardised obesity and current smoking prevalence were significantly lower in pilots compared to the highest socio-economic quintile of the general population. Even when comparisons were made with the highest income quintile of the general population to control for socio-economic status, pilots had a significantly lower prevalence of obesity and smoking. This finding is consistent with a strong 'healthy worker effect'.