Display options
Cite
Gordon B, Erlich Y, Carmon E. The prevalence of medical symptoms in military aircrew. Disaster Mil Med. 2017;3:3doi: 10.1186/s40696-017-0031-1.
Gordon, B., Erlich, Y., & Carmon, E. (2017). The prevalence of medical symptoms in military aircrew. Disaster and military medicine, 33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40696-017-0031-1
Gordon, Barak, et al. "The prevalence of medical symptoms in military aircrew." Disaster and military medicine vol. 3 (2017): 3. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40696-017-0031-1
Gordon B, Erlich Y, Carmon E. The prevalence of medical symptoms in military aircrew. Disaster Mil Med. 2017 Feb 02;3:3. doi: 10.1186/s40696-017-0031-1. eCollection 2017. PMID: 28265455; PMCID: PMC5329958.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Disaster Mil Med. 2017 Feb 02;3:3. doi: 10.1186/s40696-017-0031-1. eCollection 2017.

The prevalence of medical symptoms in military aircrew.

Disaster and military medicine

Barak Gordon, Yifat Erlich, Erez Carmon

Affiliations

  1. Medical Corps, and Chief Surgeon of the Air Force Headquartes, Israeli Defense Forces, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
  2. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

PMID: 28265455 PMCID: PMC5329958 DOI: 10.1186/s40696-017-0031-1

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of medical symptoms in aviators has not been described in the medical literature.

METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire was handed to all Israeli Air Force aviators who went through the routine yearly examination. Because only two women filled the questionnaire, we excluded them. The questionnaire contained a list of 49 symptoms and the aviators were asked to mark symptoms that were present in the last month before the examination as well as age, estimated weekly flying hours, military service status (reserve or career) and type of aircraft (jet-fighter, helicopter or transport). A general linear model was used to determine the association between age, weekly flying hours, type of aircraft and type of service with the number of symptoms. Binary logistic regression analyses was used to assess the association of these factors with lack of symptoms, and the top five ranking symptoms.

RESULTS: Data was available for 323 male aviators. 62.5% of the aviators reported at least one symptom in the previous month. 26.9% reported three or more symptoms. 25.1% reported spinal symptoms, 22% respiratory symptoms, 21.4% fatigue, 11.5% headache and 6.5% general weakness. Career service was associated with the number of symptoms, fatigue and general weakness. Age was associated with fatigue and general weakness. Aircraft type and weekly flying hours were not associated with any symptom.

CONCLUSIONS: Medical symptoms are prevalent in military aviators. Career personnel report on medical symptoms, especially fatigue, more often than reserve personnel. Further study is warranted to examine this association.

Keywords: Aviation medicine; Primary medical care; Symptoms

References

  1. Scand J Prim Health Care. 1999 Dec;17(4):201-9 - PubMed
  2. Fam Pract. 2001 Feb;18(1):33-8 - PubMed
  3. Psychosomatics. 2003 Sep-Oct;44(5):359-66 - PubMed
  4. Psychosom Med. 2007 Jan;69(1):30-9 - PubMed
  5. QJM. 2007 Oct;100(10):617-27 - PubMed
  6. J Psychosom Res. 2008 Mar;64(3):265-74 - PubMed
  7. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2009 Aug;80(8):734-7 - PubMed
  8. J Psychosom Res. 2010 Jul;69(1):1-8 - PubMed
  9. Occup Med (Lond). 2010 Aug;60(5):326-9 - PubMed
  10. Br J Gen Pract. 2011 Jan;61(582):e1-11 - PubMed
  11. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2012 Jul-Aug;34(4):323-31 - PubMed
  12. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2012 Jul;83(7):702-5 - PubMed
  13. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2013 Sep;84(9):975-9 - PubMed
  14. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2013 Oct;84(10):1041-5 - PubMed
  15. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2015 May;86(5):458-65 - PubMed
  16. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016 Dec 1;87(12):1036-1040 - PubMed
  17. Am J Public Health. 1987 Jul;77(7):837-40 - PubMed
  18. Arch Intern Med. 1993 Nov 8;153(21):2474-80 - PubMed

Publication Types