Health in the Skies: A Narrative Review of the Issues Faced by Commercial Airline Pilots

Abstract

While the health of airline pilots is crucial to ensuring the safe travel of millions of people worldwide, they remain vulnerable to a variety of health challenges due to the nature of their job. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the most common health issues experienced by commercial airline pilots. By examining the published literature on this topic, we sought to identify areas where further research is needed to understand better the health risks associated with being a pilot and to develop effective interventions to address these risks. We also highlight how recent technological advances in digital health can be leveraged to conduct research into the potential usefulness of telehealth assessments for identifying occupational hazards in the aviation sector and providing targeted interventions. Overall, addressing the challenges of taking care of pilots' health and ensuring public safety will require a collaborative effort among airlines, governments, and regulators. Prioritizing pilot health and safety can actually improve profitability in the aviation sector by reducing costs associated with absenteeism, turnover, and accidents.

A Comparative Study of Seroprevalence of 17 Common Pathogens Among Airline Pilots and Office Workers

“…Furthermore, H. pylori infection has been linked to various extraintestinal manifestations, such as CVD, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and metabolic syndrome [29]. These are conditions that have been previously reported in the pilot population [6][7][8], adding to the significance of this association. Another intriguing observation is the connection between H. pylori and motion sickness.…”

“…This study is the first to compare the seropositivity rates of 17 common infectious agents in two distinct groups: APs, a professional category commonly affected by NCDs [6,8], and OWs. Additionally, it provides valuable insights into specific oncogenic pathogens.…”

“…Unlike space flight, where HSV-1 infections have been more thoroughly investigated [23,24], the reasons behind the higher HSV-1 seroprevalence in APs compared to OWs are currently speculative as this finding is reported for the first time. However, pilots' immune system dysregulation due to high fatigue and circadian disruption [6,10] as well as factors related to local air recirculation in current airliner cabins [11] may represent plausible explanations. Although acute HSV-1 infections do not affect pilots' fitness to fly, medical advice should be given regarding the shedding of viral DNA from saliva and oral secretions.…”

“…Airline pilots (APs) encounter various occupational hazards that can have adverse effects on their health and well-being [6]. The nature of their work, which involves irregular flight schedules, shift work, and travel across different time zones, often disrupts their natural body rhythms.…”

“…The nature of their work, which involves irregular flight schedules, shift work, and travel across different time zones, often disrupts their natural body rhythms. In addition, pilots may suffer from fatigue, exposure to cosmic radiation, irregular meal times, disrupted sleep patterns, and even symptoms of depression [6][7][8][9][10]. The sedentary nature of their job and the cabin environment, characterized by noise and vibrations [11], further compound these challenges.…”