Number of chronic conditions and professional longevity of aviators.
METHODS
The number of chronic medical conditions (NCMC) experienced by an individual may be a measure of health and predictor of the disqualification of aviators. Subjects were 727 medically disqualified and 807 current pilots and navigators in the Russian Air Forces. All chronic conditions reported in medical files were extracted.


RESULTS
Disqualification was earlier for subjects who had diagnoses of chronic conditions at age 29 (chi 2 = 82.24, p < 0.0001). Disqualification was proportionate to the NCMC at age 32 (chi 2 = 98.32, p < 0.0001) and at 37 (chi 2 = 105.41, p < 0.0001). For 37-yr-old aviators age at disqualification was influenced more by the NCMC than by military rank.


CONCLUSIONS
The NCMC influenced subsequent disqualification for many years after health assessment. This influence was significant and independent from the aviator's speciality, final military rank, position, age at entering flying school, or town or country of origin.


CONCLUSIONS
NCMC is a good measure of health and predictor of disqualification of aviators.
Vlassov
V V
VV
Saratov Medical University, Russia.
D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine / Q000592:standards; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008889:Military Personnel; D016272:Occupational Health; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014586:USSR / Q000453:epidemiology