Comparative data from 2250 male and female sports divers: diving patterns and decompression sickness.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to compare the diving habits and histories of men and women in recreational scuba diving.


METHODS
More than 10,000 questionnaires were circulated to recreational divers in the United Kingdom. Retrospective, broad-based information was requested concerning general health, smoking, alcohol, recreational drug use, diving habits and histories, and physician-confirmed and self-diagnosed episodes of decompression sickness (DCS). Data relating only to women were also gathered. Questionnaires were anonymous.


RESULTS
Over four years, 2250 divers responded, 47% of whom were women. Of the 458,827 dives reported, 310% were by women. Differences in diving habits were observed between men and women, which included number of dives per annum, maximum depths dived, and dives with extra stops. When the level of experience was taken into account in this study group, the estimated rate of DCS in men was 2.60 times greater than for women.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, comparison between men and women in recreational diving differed from the initial evaluation when underlying factors were taken into account. Future studies should attempt to control for underlying factors in the data gathering and data analysis.
St Leger Dowse
M
M
Diving Diseases Research Centre, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom. mstld@eurobell.co.uk
Bryson
P
P
Gunby
A
A
Fife
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D004242:Diving / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology