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Prevalence of decompression sickness among U-2 pilots
G A Bendrick1, M J Ainscough, A A Pilmanis
1USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, TX 78235-5123, USA.
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|March 1, 1996
Summary
Decompression sickness (DCS) affects over 75% of U-2 pilots, impacting missions. However, this study found no causal link between DCS and chronic musculoskeletal issues like arthritis in this high-risk aviation group.
Area of Science:
- Aviation physiology
- Aerospace medicine
- High-altitude physiology
Background:
- Decompression sickness (DCS) is an acknowledged risk for U-2 pilots.
- The long-term effects of DCS in this specific aviator population remain unexamined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the career prevalence of DCS symptoms in U-2 pilots.
- To assess the association between DCS and chronic musculoskeletal problems in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Anonymous surveys were distributed to 416 active-duty and retired U-2 pilots.
- Surveys collected demographic data, DCS symptom history, and current health status, focusing on musculoskeletal issues.
Main Results:
- Over 75% of pilots reported experiencing DCS symptoms during their careers.
- Symptoms often occurred in-flight and resolved upon descent; 12.7% altered missions due to DCS.
- No statistically significant association was found between past DCS and current arthritic conditions.
Conclusions:
- The incidence of DCS symptoms in U-2 pilots is higher than previously documented.
- DCS symptoms can affect mission completion for U-2 aviators.
- This study found no evidence linking DCS to chronic musculoskeletal sequelae, such as arthritis, in U-2 pilots.
Keywords:
Non-programmatic