The Prevalence of Cardiometabolic Health Risk Factors among Airline Pilots: A Systematic Review

Daniel Wilson, Matthew Driller, Ben Johnston and Nicholas Gill
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Daniel Wilson: Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, The University of Waikato, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand
Matthew Driller: Sport and Exercise Science, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia
Ben Johnston: Aviation and Occupational Health Unit, Air New Zealand, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Nicholas Gill: Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, The University of Waikato, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-22

Abstract: Background: The occupational demands of professional airline pilots such as shift work, work schedule irregularities, sleep disruption, fatigue, physical inactivity, and psychological stress may promote adverse outcomes to cardiometabolic health. This review investigates the prevalence of cardiometabolic health risk factors for airline pilots. Methods: An electronic search was conducted utilizing PubMed, MEDLINE (via OvidSP), CINAHL, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, CENTRAL, and Web of Science for publications between 1990 and February 2022. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using two quality assessment tools for cross-sectional and clinical trial studies. The prevalence of physiological, behavioral, and psychological risk factors was reported using descriptive analysis. Results: A total of 48 studies derived from 20 different countries, reviewing a total pooled sample of 36,958 airline pilots. Compared with general population estimates, pilots had a similar prevalence for health risk factors, yet higher sleep duration, lower smoking and obesity rates, less physical activity, and a higher overall rate of body mass index >25. Conclusions: The research reported substantial prevalence >50% for overweight and obesity, insufficient physical activity, elevated fatigue, and regular alcohol intake among pilots. However, the heterogeneity in methodology and the lack of quality and quantity in the current literature limit the strength of conclusions that can be established. Enhanced monitoring and future research are essential to inform aviation health practices and policies (Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO CRD42022308287).

Keywords: aviation medicine; occupational health; morbidity; noncommunicable disease risk; risk factors; modifiable risk (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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