OBJECTIVETo investigate the status of controllable risk factors of cardiovascular disease in Chinese pilots.

METHODSPilots in seven regions of China were selected with cluster sampling. The rates of hypertension, diabetes mellitus,smoking and abnormal body mass index (BMI) as well as levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol were obtained.

RESULTS(1) A total of 5012 pilots were selected and 4684 pilots whose data were effective were studied. (2) The prevalence rates of hypertension, high total cholesterol, triglyceride, low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and diabetes mellitus were 8.07%, 7.47%, 14. 45%, 27.63% and 0.43%, respectively. The rate of smoking was 66.45%. The rat of increased BMI was 49.64%. (3) Significant difference existed on the rates of hypertension, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, smoking and abnormal BMI among pilots from different regions (all P < 0.01). There was also a significant difference between the rates of hypertension, total cholesterol, triglyceride, smoking and abnormal BMI in different age groups (all P < 0.01). The rate of low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol was similar in different age groups (P > 0.05). (4) 88.96% of the participants had at least one controllable risk factor. 54.46% of the participants had at least two controllable risk factors. None of the participants had more than seven risk factors. There was a significant difference between the rates of pilots who have more than two controllable risk factors in different regions (P < 0.01). There was a significant difference between the rates of pilots who have more than two risk factors in different age groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThere was high prevalence of controllable cardiovascular risk factors in Chinese pilots. Active intervention targeting these cardiovascular disease risk factors needs to be considered to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in Chinese pilots.