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Cardiovascular risk profiles in German Air Force pilots
Stefan Sammito1,2, N Güttler3
1German Airforce Centre of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany drsammito@web.de.
BMJ Military Health
|December 1, 2020
Summary
Cardiovascular risk factors increased in German military pilots, who are also aging. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a future challenge for military aviation, despite a mild increase in the PROCAM score.
Area of Science:
- Aviation Medicine
- Cardiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death and pilot incapacitation.
- Limited data exist on cardiovascular risk profiles in military pilots.
- This study assessed cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) in German military pilots.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence and changes in CVRF among German military pilots.
- To understand the cardiovascular health trends in this specific occupational group.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey of German military pilots across two periods: 2007-2009 and 2016-2018.
- Collected data on demographics, lifestyle, and clinical measurements (BMI, blood pressure, lipids, glucose).
- Calculated the Prospective Cardiovascular Münster (PROCAM) score to estimate acute coronary event risk.
Main Results:
- Significant increases in pilot age, BMI, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, glucose, and triglycerides were observed between cohorts.
- A significant decrease in the number of pilots on antihypertensive medication.
- The PROCAM score increased from 18 to 23 points, indicating a slight rise in predicted 10-year acute coronary event risk.
Conclusions:
- The German military pilot population is aging and exhibits increasing cardiovascular risk factors.
- CVD presents a growing challenge for military aviation health.
- While CVRF have increased, the overall predicted risk of acute coronary events remains relatively low.
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