Age-specific morbidity and mortality rates among U.S. Navy enlisted divers and controls

The purpose of this study was to compare age-specific hospitalization, disability, and mortality rates for diving-related and stress-induced disorders between U.S. Navy enlisted divers (n = 11,584) and a matched sample of nondiver enlistees (n = 11,517). Divers had significantly higher hospitalization rates than controls for the category of environmentally induced disorders and deflected nasal septum as well as for joint disorders at ages 23-28. Controls had significantly higher hospitalization rates for stress-related disorders (e.g., alcohol and drug abuse and transient situational disturbances) and circulatory diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease). Higher rates of medical and physical evaluation board actions for stress-related disorders were observed among controls than among divers. For both groups, medical board, physical evaluation board, and mortality rates increased with age as did hospitalizations for musculoskeletal diseases, stress-related disorders, and circulatory diseases. Subsequent research will examine the long-term health effects associated with divers job-related accidents as well as hospitalizations for environmentally induced disorders and musculoskeletal conditions.