Pulmonary function of combat pilots What are the chronic effects of exposure?

Abstract

The effects related to work at high altitudes and acceleration force overload can generate physiological compensation mechanisms and eventual short-, medium- and long-term changes in lung function. Therefore, the aim of this article was to describe the chronic changes in lung function in combat pilots of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The sample consisted of 19 combat pilots as the exposed group and 20 voluntaries as the control group. For pulmonary function measurements, we observed an increase in the mean values of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume during the First Second (FEV1), a decrease in lung volume, an increase in resistance and work of breathing. In the exposed group, compared with the control group, we observed significant modifications to the Residual Volume (RV) by the Total Lung Capacity (TLC) in liters (L) and percentage (%), that  is, RV/TLC. Similar behaviors when evaluated according to flight hours, with an increase proportional to the increase in exposure time. Discrete changes, in agreement with those observed in this research, may reflect adaptations of the respiratory system, bringing a complementary view to changes in chronic conditions.