Prevalence of Neurological and Mental Health Illness in U.S. Naval Aviators: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

IF 0.8 4区医学 Q4 BIOPHYSICS

Aerospace medicine and human performance Pub Date : 2026-04-01 DOI:10.3357/AMHP.6806.2026

G Merrill Rice, Steven Linnville, Tina M Luse, Jonathan D Erpenbach, Stephanie A Larocco

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: Recent media and public attention have linked the naval tactical aircraft accelerative environment to potential neurological and mental health issues, but epidemiological research on tactical aviators is limited. This study reports the current prevalence of selected neurological and mental health disorders among naval tactical aviators and nontactical aviators.

Methods: A retrospective cohort-designed study was performed on 10,661 active-duty naval aviators identified within the Naval Fleet Training Management and Planning System. Their unique identification codes were associated with all available military electronic health records within the Military Health System Data Repository for certain neurological and mental health International Classification of Diseases codes from October 2000 through December 2024.

Results: In total 8593 active-duty naval aviators met inclusion criteria. Compared to tactical aviators, helicopter aviators had higher odds of behavioral health disorders overall [odds ratio (OR) 1.29, 95% confidence limits (CL) 1.10-1.52], adjustment disorders (OR 1.35, 95% CL 1.09-1.68), and posttraumatic stress disorder (OR 1.82, 95% CL 1.02-3.25). Reconnaissance aviators had higher odds of behavioral health disorders overall (OR 1.37, 95% CL 1.17-1.60), adjustment disorders (OR 1.5, 95% CL 1.22-1.85), posttraumatic stress disorder (OR 1.84, 95% CL 1.05-3.22), and anxiety (OR 1.33, 95% CL 1.05-1.70) compared to tactical aviators. No significant differences were observed between these cohorts for selected neurological conditions.

Discussion: Accelerative exposures in tactical naval aviation differ and are generally far lower than those seen in sports involving repetitive head impacts. Advances in medical imaging and neuro-biomarkers allow aeromedical researchers to examine this population for potential subclinical neurological changes. Rice GM, Linnville S, Luse TM, Erpenbach JD, Larocco SA. Prevalence of neurological and mental health illness in U.S. naval aviators: a retrospective cohort study. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2026; 97(4):264-271.

查看原文本刊更多论文

美国海军飞行员神经和精神健康疾病的患病率：一项回顾性队列研究。

导论：最近的媒体和公众关注将海军战术飞机加速环境与潜在的神经和心理健康问题联系起来，但对战术飞行员的流行病学研究有限。本研究报告了目前海军战术飞行员和非战术飞行员中选定的神经和精神健康障碍的流行情况。方法：对10661名海军舰队训练管理和计划系统现役海军飞行员进行回顾性队列设计研究。从2000年10月到2024年12月，他们的唯一识别码与军事卫生系统数据库中用于某些神经和精神健康的国际疾病分类代码的所有可用军事电子健康记录相关联。结果：共有8593名海军现役飞行员符合纳入标准。与战术飞行员相比，直升机飞行员总体上有更高的行为健康障碍的几率[比值比（OR） 1.29, 95%置信限（CL） 1.10-1.52]，适应障碍（OR 1.35, 95% CL 1.09-1.68）和创伤后应激障碍（OR 1.82, 95% CL 1.02-3.25）。与战术飞行员相比，侦察飞行员的总体行为健康障碍（OR 1.37, 95% CL 1.17-1.60）、适应障碍（OR 1.5, 95% CL 1.22-1.85）、创伤后应激障碍（OR 1.84, 95% CL 1.05-3.22）和焦虑（OR 1.33, 95% CL 1.05-1.70）的几率更高。在选定的神经系统疾病方面，这些队列之间没有观察到显著差异。讨论：战术海军航空兵的加速暴露不同，通常远低于涉及重复头部撞击的运动。医学成像和神经生物标志物的进步使航空医学研究人员能够检查这一人群潜在的亚临床神经系统变化。Rice GM, Linnville S, Luse TM, Erpenbach JD, Larocco SA。美国海军飞行员神经和精神健康疾病的患病率：一项回顾性队列研究航空航天Med Hum执行。2026；97(4): 264 - 271。

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来源期刊

Aerospace medicine and human performance PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH -MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL

CiteScore

1.10

自引率

22.20%

发文量

272

期刊介绍： The peer-reviewed monthly journal, Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance (AMHP), formerly Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, provides contact with physicians, life scientists, bioengineers, and medical specialists working in both basic medical research and in its clinical applications. It is the most used and cited journal in its field. It is distributed to more than 80 nations.