U.S. Army Aviation Epidemiology Data Register: Descriptive Analysis of MedicalDisqualification Among Female Army Aviator Training Applicants

摘要

Congress has directed studies of women in the military. The frequency and causesof medical disqualification for female applicants to Army aviator training are unknown. The U.S. Army Aviation Epidemiology Data Register was queried to provide a descriptive analysis of a cohort of female applicants to Army aviator training for calendar years 1987 to 1990. There was a total of 774 female Class 1 and Class 1A applicants to U.S. Army aviator training during calendar years 1987 to 1990. Among the applicants, 41.2 percent were Class 1 (Warrant officer candidates) and 58.8 percent were Class IA (Commissioned officers). Commissioned officer applicants were significantly younger than Warrant officer applicants (p < 0.001, 2-sided, Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic). Among Class 1 applicants, 38.9 percent were medically disqualified compared to 36.7 percent for Class 1A. There was no difference in the risk for medical disqualification between Class 1 and 1A (Relative risk = 1.059, CI sub 95% = O.882, 1.272) The six most prevalent disqualifying diagnoses were a failure to meet anthropometric standards (16.8 percent of applicants), myopia (9.3 percent), allergic rhinitis (4.1 percent), failure to meet weight standards (1.3 percent), anemia (1.3 percent), and hyperopia (1.2 percent). There was no significant difference in the risk for disqualification for any category of diagnosis between Class 1 and Class 1A.