title: Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among UK commercial pilots.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study is one of the largest ever completed to examine the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among commercial aircrew.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A retrospective cross-sectional study comparing prevalence of CVD risk factors age, body mass index (BMI), overweight and obesity, current smoking status, hypertension, and diabetes among commercial aircrew and the UK general population. A total of 14,379 subject records were eligible for the study. The age-sex group mean BMI was significantly lower in almost all pilot age groups compared to the general population. Overweight age-sex group prevalence was significantly higher in the <25, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64 age groups for male pilots, and lower for female pilots in the 25-34 and 45-54 age groups. Male and female pilots had significantly lower age-sex-group prevalence of obesity and current smoking compared to the general population. For hypertension, the male <25 and 35-44 year age groups had significantly higher prevalence, and the 45-54 and 55-64 year age groups had significantly lower prevalence than the general population. Age-standardised mean BMI and prevalence of overweight and hypertension were not significantly different from the highest income quintile of the general population. Age-standardised obesity and current smoking prevalence were significantly lower in pilots compared to the highest socio-economic quintile of the general population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even when comparisons were made with the highest income quintile of the general population to control for socio-economic status, pilots had a significantly lower prevalence of obesity and smoking. This finding is consistent with a strong 'healthy worker effect'.
authors: British Midland Airways Aero-Medical Service, London Heathrow Airport, UK. stephen.houston@flybmi.com
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Houston
authors: Stuart
authors: S
authors: Mitchell
authors: Sally
authors: S
authors: Evans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001359:Aviation; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology