Echocardiographic and color flow Doppler findings in military pilot applicants

Aviat Space Environ Med. 1995 Jan;66(1):32-4.

Abstract

This report details the findings of 1476 Canadian Forces pilot candidates screened with echocardiography and Doppler. All candidates had previously been medically screened at a recruiting center. We found 115 (7.8%) to have disqualifying findings. Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) was the most common (4.8%). Other abnormalities included aortic regurgitation (2.3%), bicuspid aortic valve (0.9%), left ventricular hypertrophy, asymmetric septal hypertrophy, and atrial septal defect (< 0.05%). Of the 71 candidates found to have mitral valve prolapse, 40 had positive clinical findings on careful auscultation. Echocardiography is a safe, cost-effective tool for screening candidates for military pilot training. Normative data on this population agree well with published norms.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aerospace Medicine
  • Canada
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Echocardiography, Doppler, Color
  • Female
  • Heart Valves / abnormalities
  • Heart Valves / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Military Personnel*