Diving Exposure Effect on Traditional Divers’s Quality of Life With Decompression Sickness

Abstract

Background: Decompression sickness is thought to have effect on health related quality of life (HRQL), however, there is a little research in Indonesia. We measured HRQL on traditional diver with decompression sickness in Karimunjawa. The purpose of this study is to explain the effect of diving exposure on traditional diver's quality of live with decompression sickness. Materials and Methods: This research was an observational analytic research with casecontrol study design. The participants were 66 volunteer traditional divers with decompression sickness. The case group (33 volunteer who had poor quality of life) while the control group (33 volunteer who had good quality of life). HRQL were measured using the SF-36 questionnaire. The data obtained from the study were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Result: Diving exposure variables that had been proven to affect poor quality of life were diving depth ≥ 30 meters (p = 0.014; OR = 38.410; 95% CI = 2.114-698.028), diving duration ≥ 2 hours (p = 0.021; OR = 9.860; 95% CI = 1.410-68.943), history of loss of consciousness during diving (p = 0.009; OR = 12.456, 95% CI = 1.884-82.363), frequency of decompression sickness history > 1 time (p = 0.020; OR = 8.834; 95% CI = 1.404-55.584). Diving exposure variable that unproven to affect poor quality of life was repeated dives on the same day. Conclusion: Diving exposure variables that had been proven to affect poor quality of life on traditional diver with decompression sickness were diving depth ≥ 30 meters, diving duration ≥ 2 hours, history of loss of consciousness during diving, frequency of previous decompression sickness > 1 time.