Titre du document / Document title

Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in 193 U.S. military aviators : Long-term follow-up

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

GARDNER R. A. ⁽¹⁾ ; KRUYER W. B. ⁽¹⁾ ; PICKARD J. S. ⁽¹⁾ ; CELIO P. V. ⁽¹⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Internal Medicine Branch, Aeromedical Consultation Service, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine Brooks AFB, TX, ETATS-UNIS

Résumé / Abstract

Background: Despite its importance to the aeromedical community, the occupational implications of asymptomatic, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) are not well described. We sought to clarify this issue via a review of military aviators evaluated for nonsustained VT by defining event rates for sudden cardiac death, syncope, presyncope and sustained VT, and by determining whether any cofactors predicted a subgroup at increased risk for such outcomes. Methods: We reviewed the records of 193 military aviators evaluated at the U.S. Air Force Aeromedical Consultation Service for nonsustained VT from September 1960 to December 1992. Follow-up information was available on 192 of the 193 aviators over a mean of 10.6 yr. Cofactor analysis focused on idiopathic VT (no associated underlying cardiac disease) and VT associated with mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Results: There was no documented sustained VT; 9 (4.6%) had events including syncope (1), presyncope (5) and sudden death (3). Of these 9, 4 had idiopathic VT. The 3 deaths were associated with coronary artery disease, MVP and cardiomyopathy. No cofactors predicted events in aviators initially presenting with asymptomatic nonsustained VT. For asymptomatic nonsustained VT, the maximum predicted annual event rate was 0.33% for idiopathic VT and 2.3% for VT with MVP (95% confidence limit). Conclusions: Nonsustained VT did not predict future documented sustained VT. Cofactors failed to predict a subgroup at increased risk for events. Idiopathic nonsustained VT appeared to be a low risk population for whom expanded waiver criteria are proposed with suggested limits on duration and number of episodes of VT.

Revue / Journal Title

Aviation, space, and environmental medicine   ISSN 0095-6562 

Source / Source

2000, vol. 71, n^o8, pp. 783-790 (22 ref.)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Aerospace Medical Association, Alexandria, VA, ETATS-UNIS  (1975) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Pilot ; Airplane ; Vocational aptitude ; Electrocardiography ; Prognosis ; Ventricular tachycardia ; Asymptomatic ; Human ; Military ; Space medicine ; Crew ; Cardiovascular disease ; Arrhythmia ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Pilote ; Avion ; Aptitude professionnelle ; Electrocardiographie ; Pronostic ; Tachycardie ventriculaire ; Asymptomatique ; Homme ; Militaire ; Médecine aérospatiale ; Personnel navigant ; Appareil circulatoire pathologie ; Trouble rythme cardiaque ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Pilote ; Avión ; Aptitud profesional ; Electrocardiografía ; Pronóstico ; Taquicardia ventricular ; Asintomático ; Hombre ; Militar ; Medicina aeroespacial ; Personal de navegación ; Aparato circulatorio patología ; Arritmia ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 2018, 35400009090227.0020