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Decompression sickness in women divers.
Undersea Biomedical Research
|July 1, 1987
Summary
Navy female divers show no increased risk of decompression sickness (DCS) compared to male divers. Analysis of diving logs revealed no DCS in women, while 8 men experienced symptoms, challenging previous assumptions.
Area of Science:
- Diving Medicine
- Physiology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- The incidence of decompression sickness (DCS) in female divers has been a long-standing topic of debate.
- Previous studies have suggested a potential increased risk in women, but data remains inconclusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare the incidence of DCS between female and male naval divers.
- To determine if female divers face a higher risk of DCS under specific diving conditions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of diving log data from the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC).
- Comparison of 28 female student divers with 487 male student divers.
- Inclusion of 878 air and helium-oxygen dives with depths ranging from 120 to 300 feet of seawater (fsw).
Main Results:
- No female divers experienced symptoms of DCS.
- Eight male divers developed DCS symptoms during the study period.
- Dive profiles included durations up to 2 hours and 6 minutes, with bottom times under 20 minutes.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates no increased risk of DCS for female Navy divers compared to their male counterparts.
- Findings suggest that sex is not a significant factor in DCS risk under the studied conditions.
- This research contributes to a better understanding of DCS epidemiology in diverse diving populations.