Medical appraisal of Chinese military aircrew with abnormal results of coronary computed tomographic angiography

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery diseases can cause myocardial ischemia and hypoxia, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, and even sudden death led to inflight incapacitation of aircrew. As the main cause of grounding due to illness, they severe threats to the health and fighting strength of military aircrew. Early warning in an early and accurate manner and early intervention of diseases possibly resulting in inflight incapacitation are key emphases of aeromedical support in clinic.

AIM

To figure out the flight factors and clinical characteristics of military aircrew with abnormal results of coronary artery computed tomographic angiography (CTA), thereby rendering theoretical references for clinical aeromedical support of military flying personnel.

METHODS

The clinical data of 15 flying personnel who received physical examinations in a military medical center from December 2020 to June 2023 and were diagnosed with coronary artery diseases by coronary artery CTA were collected and retrospectively analyzed, and a descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on their onset age, aircraft type and clinical data.

RESULTS

The 15 military flying personnel diagnosed with coronary artery diseases by coronary artery CTA were composed of 9 pilots, 1 navigator and 5 air combat service workers. Multi-vessel disease was detected in 9 flying personnel, among which 8 (88.9%) were pilots. Flying personnel with multi-vessel disease had higher content of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B than those with single-vessel disease.

CONCLUSION

Coronary artery diseases are the major heart disease for the grounding of flying personnel due to illness, which can lead to inflight incapacitation. Coronary artery CTA is conducive to early detection and early intervention treatment of such diseases in clinic.

Keywords: Military; Flying personnel; Coronary artery disease; Medical appraisal

Core Tip: Early warning and intervention of diseases leading to inflight incapacitation is not only the most crucial task in clinical aeromedical work, but also the key link to reduce the grounding rate, ensure the fighting strength of troops and extend the life cycle of pilots. Construction of early warning model, accurate early warning and early intervention of key parameters in the results of routine physical examination are of great military significance for ensuring the health improvement of flying personnel.