title: Military jet pilots have higher p-wave dispersions compared to the transport aircraft aircrew.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  For the purpose of flight safety military aircrew must be healthy. P-wave dispersion (PWD) is the p-wave length difference in an electrocardiographic (ECG) examination and represents the risk of developing atrial fibrillation. In the study we aimed at investigating PWD in healthy military aircrew who reported for periodical examinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five asymptomatic military aircrew were enrolled in the study. All the subjects underwent physical, radiologic and biochemical examinations, and a 12-lead electrocardiography. P-wave dispersions were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the study participants was 36.15±8.97 years and the mean p-wave duration was 100.8±12 ms in the whole group. Forty-seven subjects were non-pilot aircrew, and 28 were pilots. Thirteen study subjects were serving in jets, 49 in helicopters, and 13 were transport aircraft pilots. Thirty-six of the helicopter and 11 of the transport aircraft aircrew were non-pilot aircrew. P-wave dispersion was the lowest in the transport aircraft aircrew, and the highest in jet pilots. P-wave dispersions were similar in the pilots and non-pilot aircrew. Twenty-three study subjects were overweight, 19 had thyroiditis, 26 had hepatosteatosis, 4 had hyperbilirubinemia, 2 had hypertension, and 5 had hyperlipidemia. The PWD was significantly associated with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. Serum uric acid levels were associated with p-wave durations. Serum TSH levels were the most important predictor of PWD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When TSH levels were associated with PWD, uric acid levels were associated with p-wave duration in the military aircrew. The jet pilots had higher PWDs. These findings reveal that military jet pilots may have a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation, and PWD should be recorded during periodical examinations.
authors.affiliation: Eskisehir Military Hospital, Eskisehir, Turkey (Department of Internal Medicine). drmustafacakar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Çakar
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Medical Academy, Eskisehir, Turkey (Department of Aerospace Medicine). drsmetin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Süleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Metin
authors.affiliation: Eskisehir Military Hospital, Eskisehir, Turkey (Department of Cardiology). drsevketb@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Şevket
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Balta
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey (Department of Cardiology). drcengizozturk@yahoo.com.tr.
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Öztürk
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey (Department of Cardiology). saitdemirkol@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sait
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demirkol
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Medical Academy, Eskisehir, Turkey (Department of Aerospace Medicine). drtolgacakmak@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Çakmak
authors.affiliation: Eskisehir Military Hospital, Eskisehir, Turkey (Department of Internal Medicine). drsat1993@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Satılmış
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: İnal
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey (Department of Cardiology). benturgay@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Turgay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Çelik
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey (Department of Cardiology). aiyisoy@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Atilla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: İyisoy
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey (Department of Cardiology). drmuratunlu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ünlü
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Medical Academy, Eskisehir, Turkey (Department of Aerospace Medicine). drahmetsen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Şen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D000070356:Pilots; D012307:Risk Factors; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D014421:Turkey; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014527:Uric Acid; D013972:Thyrotropin
keywords: TSH; arrythmia; atrial fibrillation; jet pilots; military aircrew; p-wave dispersion