Allergic rhinitis history as a predictor of other future disqualifying otorhinolaryngological defects.
BACKGROUND
Problems with the otorhinolaryngological system represent the largest category of pilot referrals for specialist assessment and possible waiver recommendation in the U.S. Navy. Most of these referrals deal with allergic rhinitis (AR). Approximately 3% of all Naval aircrew have a waiver for AR. This paper tests the hypothesis that the identification of a history of AR is a predictor for the development of future disqualifying otorhinolaryngological (ear, nose, and throat, or ENT) diseases such as chronic sinusitis, alternobaric disease, conductive hearing loss, or the need for various surgical procedures (i.e., Caldwell Luc antrostomy, myringotomy, polypectomy, mastoidectomy, and functional endoscopic sinus surgery.


METHODS
The U.S. Navy Aviation Medical Data Retrieval System (AMDRS) was searched for aircrew who were diagnosed only with AR in 1988. These aircrew were matched with a control group from the 1988 database who had no diagnoses of AR or any of the other disqualifying ENT diseases. The AR cohort and controls had their physical examinations up to 1995 assessed to see if any of the disqualifying ENT conditions had developed.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant increase in the number of identifiable chronic sinusitis cases but there was no significant relationship between an AR history and the development of any of the other ENT disease categories.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the study findings, it is doubtful that uncomplicated AR as an isolated historical diagnosis should be disqualifying for either candidate or designated aircrew.
Naval Aerospace and Operational Medical Institute, Academics Department, Pensacola, FL, USA.
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Walker
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Williams
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Phelan
D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009326:Naval Medicine; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010808:Physical Examination; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications*; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States