What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey among recreational divers in Belgium to identify risk factors for diving accidents leading to hospitalization.
What They Found
Among 210 participants, 17.1% required medical intervention, with 6.2% hospitalized and 5.7% needing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). The absolute risk for hospitalization or HBOT was 0.01% per dive, and factors like age, advanced diving qualification, more annual dives, cardiac or ENT pathology, and cardiac medication were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of hospitalization.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian recreational divers, particularly those with cardiac or ENT conditions or on cardiac medication, should be aware of these identified risk factors. Consulting a physician before diving, especially with these health considerations, is a practical step to enhance safety.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted in Belgium and does not have a direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this study is its reliance on self-reported data, which may introduce recall bias.