William D Porter1, G Merrill Rice. 1. Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, FL, USA. william.porter2@us.army.mil
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Urinary tract calculi are a common affliction in the United States and estimates of the adult lifetime risk of developing this condition range from 10 to 15%. Although highly variable, the clinical presentation of someone afflicted with urinary tract calculi typically involves varying degrees of pain, nausea, hematuria, and dysuria. Current disease, as well as a history of urinary tract calculi, is potentially disqualifying for aviation duties in the United States military as well as for commercial aviators. METHODS: Utilizing population based data from the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database (DMED), the current descriptive epidemiology of urinary tract calculi among military aviators was examined. RESULTS: Based on the data collected, the overall annual incidence density of urinary tract calculi for DoD personnel is approximately 4.8 events/1000 PY. The overall annual incidence density of urinary tract calculi is slightly lower in aviators as compared to the nonaviator DoD population (4.4 events/1000 PY vs. 4.8 events/1000 PY). DISCUSSION: Even though in-flight incapacitation from this malady is believed to be exceedingly rare, the incidence of urinary tract stones and their related morbidity should remain an important area of clinical focus.
BACKGROUND: Urinary tract calculi are a common affliction in the United States and estimates of the adult lifetime risk of developing this condition range from 10 to 15%. Although highly variable, the clinical presentation of someone afflicted with urinary tract calculi typically involves varying degrees of pain, nausea, hematuria, and dysuria. Current disease, as well as a history of urinary tract calculi, is potentially disqualifying for aviation duties in the United States military as well as for commercial aviators. METHODS: Utilizing population based data from the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database (DMED), the current descriptive epidemiology of urinary tract calculi among military aviators was examined. RESULTS: Based on the data collected, the overall annual incidence density of urinary tract calculi for DoD personnel is approximately 4.8 events/1000 PY. The overall annual incidence density of urinary tract calculi is slightly lower in aviators as compared to the nonaviator DoD population (4.4 events/1000 PY vs. 4.8 events/1000 PY). DISCUSSION: Even though in-flight incapacitation from this malady is believed to be exceedingly rare, the incidence of urinary tract stones and their related morbidity should remain an important area of clinical focus.