[Sphygmographic parameters in fighter and transport pilots]

Area of Science:

• Aviation Medicine
• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Diagnostic Methods

Background:

• Pilot cardiovascular health is crucial for flight safety.
• Subtle cardiovascular abnormalities may go undetected.
• Existing monitoring methods may lack sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate cardiovascular function in active male pilots using a novel sphygmographic technique.
• To identify prevalence of hidden cardiovascular abnormalities.
• To compare cardiovascular parameters across different age groups and pilot types.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 129 active male pilots underwent cardiovascular function assessment.
• A new sphygmographic method was employed for non-invasive evaluation.
• Data analysis included arterial blood pressure and medium artery modulus.

Main Results:

• 13 pilots (10.3%) exhibited abnormal cardiovascular function.
• Fighter pilots aged 30-34 showed lower arterial blood pressure and medium artery modulus compared to those aged 25-29.
• This age-related difference was not observed in transport pilots.

Conclusions:

• The novel sphygmographic method effectively identifies cardiovascular abnormalities in pilots.
• Age-related cardiovascular changes differ between fighter and transport pilots.
• Regular, convenient cardiovascular monitoring is essential for enhancing pilot medical surveillance quality.