title: Demographic and occupational predictors of neck pain in pilots: analysis and multinational comparison.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to elucidate the overall risk and demographic/occupational predictors of neck pain among professional aviators.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 413 surveys characterizing the severity and character of neck pain symptoms that were administered to a multinational cohort of pilots representing 3 separate airframe types. All results were compared to a nonaviator control group. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to elucidate independent predictors of occupationally related neck pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the surveys, 92% were completed and returned. Multivariate analysis reveals that the pilot profession is independently predictive of increased occupational neck pain symptoms (OR 1.94, 95% CI 3.72, 1.01). High performance airframes, cargo/passenger airframes, and increasing age were also independent predictors of increased neck pain scores (OR = 3.91, 95% CI 7.10, 2.15; OR = 3.22, 95% CI 5.83, 1.77; OR = 4.00, 95% CI 7.43, 2.15, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our broad, multinational/multi-airframe analysis reveals that the pilot profession, most notably high performance and long-haul cargo/passenger airframes, display an increased risk of neck pain symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Ft. Sam Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Bryan K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Owen
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Fortune J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Egbulefu
authors.forename: Rosemarie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Joel W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jenne
authors.forename: Edward R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000367:Age Factors; D000401:Aircraft; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016526:Workload; D055815:Young Adult