Effects of Age and Exposure on the Health Status of U.S. Navy Divers.

Abstract

The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to identify salient health risks among U.S. Navy divers (n = 11,584 enlisted men) during a 12-year time frame and to examine the influence of age and diving experience on the incidence of these illness. Results showed that the aging process accounted for a significant elevation in hospitalization rates for musculoskeletal conditions, alcohol/drug abuse, and circulatory diseases. Very few disorders were associated with level of diving exposure: certain stress-related disorders were elevated among inexperienced divers and rates for environmentally induced disorders (e.g., decompression sickness) were significantly higher among experienced divers. Divers seemed to be at risk for joint and muscle disorders, regardless of their age or diving experience. Several recommendations were presented which were designed to further enhance the health and safety of all divers.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1984
Accession Number
ADA140257

Entities

People

  • A. Hoiberg
  • C. Blood

Organizations

  • Naval Health Research Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Bone Diseases
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Cardiovascular System
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders
  • Embolism And Thrombosis
  • Health Services
  • Joint Diseases
  • Medical Personnel
  • Muscular Diseases
  • Vascular Diseases

Fields of Study

  • Medicine
  • Psychology

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