Pilots' Hearts Flutter in Flight

October 25, 2011

FEATURED SEARCH: sinus bradycardia

Cardiovascular diseases can lead to sudden in-flight incapacitation and long-term disability in aircraft pilots. This Japanese study of 176 pilots found 34 new electrocardiogram (ECG) changes in pilots in their 50s that weren’t evident at age 40. The authors recommend sending hypertensive pilots who have ECG changes for an echocardiogram.

RESULT: Decadal electrocardiographic changes between age 40 and 50 in military pilots
Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine (PubMed) | Sep 1, 2011 (Free abstract. Full text $20)

Since accelerations during flight can provoke cardiac arrhythmias, this study examined heart rhythm changes of 40 healthy pilots during two training flights. Some 25% of the pilots had premature ventricular contractions in flight and 7.5% had sinus bradycardia, but there were no clinically significant arrhythmias.

RESULT: Cardiac arrhythmias during aerobatic flight and its simulation on a centrifuge
Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine (PubMed) | Jun 1, 2011 (Free abstract. Full text $20)

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