title: Measuring performance decrements in aviation personnel infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: There is controversy over whether cognitive impairment occurs in early human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. When impairment is reported, findings are typically subclinical, affect only a minority, and their relationship to occupational functioning has not been established. Despite such findings, it has been recommended that HIV-seropositive pilots be disqualified from flying. This paper reviews research relevant to measuring performance decrements in HIV-infected aviators. Based upon current data, we conclude that although subtle neurobehavioral dysfunction may occur in some asymptomatic HIV-seropositive individuals, there is no research which has demonstrated associated decrements in aviation-related skills. Thus, it may be premature to recommend medical disqualification of all HIV-seropositive aviators. We propose, instead, that sensitive neurocognitive measures, incorporated into a comprehensive neurodiagnostic evaluation, could be used to evaluate asymptomatic HIV-seropositive aviators. Only those who are impaired on evaluation would be disqualified from flying. Concurrently, research investigating the relationship between abnormalities and aviation abilities would be conducted.
authors.affiliation: Military Medical Consortium for Applied Retroviral Research, Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Rockville, MD 20850.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Mapou
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rundell
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Temoshok
mesh_terms: D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012106:Research; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis