What Researchers Did
Researchers in France reviewed medical records of professional divers over 17 years to identify the reasons why some divers were deemed temporarily or permanently unfit for diving.
What They Found
Out of 396 professional divers followed, 29 (7.3%) received a special medical decision regarding their fitness to dive. Twelve divers (3.0%) were permanently unfit, mainly due to serious lung conditions like emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, and asthma. Another 16 divers (4.0%) experienced temporary unfitness, primarily due to cardiovascular or neurological issues.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study highlights the importance of regular medical evaluations for occupational divers to ensure their safety and prevent serious health incidents. For Canadian professional divers, consistent medical monitoring can help identify underlying health conditions early, reducing the risk of diving-related complications such as decompression sickness, which was noted in 3.0% of divers in this study.
Canadian Relevance
The study is not Canadian and does not feature Canadian authors. However, it covers decompression sickness, which is a Health Canada-recognised indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
Study Limitations
This retrospective study was conducted at a single centre in France, which may limit the generalizability of its findings to a broader population of occupational divers.