Magnetic Resonance Signal Abnormalities and Neuropsychological Deficits in Elderly Compressed-Air Divers

Tetzlaff, Kay; Friege, Lars; Hutzelmann, A.; Reuter, M.; Höll, Doris; Leplow, Bernd

doi:10.1159/000008106

Cited by 36 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Similarly, cognitive dysfunction was identified in Australian abalone divers [3] but this was not confirmed in a follow-up study [4]. There have been other conflicting reports of cognitive dysfunction in divers [5,6]. More consistent observations have been made in Norwegian commercial divers [7,8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health status of professional divers and offshore oil industry workers

Ross

Macdiarmid

Osman

et al. 2007

Occupational Medicine

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AimsTo compare the health status of UK professional divers and age-matched non-divers and to contrast offshore divers (OSDs) with non-offshore divers (NOSDs). MethodsA postal survey sent to 2958 male professional divers, registered with the UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE) before 1991, and 2708 men who had worked in the offshore oil industry in 1990-92 (non-divers). The questionnaire addressed lifestyle, occupation and health status. ResultsIn all, 56% of divers and 51% of non-divers responded. Three per cent of participants reported illhealth retirement or being off-work on sickness benefit with no difference between groups. Divers were less likely to report asthma or hypertension. Health-related quality of life (SF-12) was within normal limits for both groups but the mental component summary was higher in divers who were also less likely to be receiving medical treatment. Divers were more likely than non-divers to report 'forgetfulness or loss of concentration' (18% versus 6%, OR 3.8, 95% CI 2.7-5.3), musculoskeletal symptoms (41% versus 34%, OR 3.8, 95% CI 2.7-5.3) and 'impaired hearing' (16% versus 11%, OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.0). These differences were attributable to increased symptom reporting in OSDs and were not present for NOSDs, with the exception of cognitive symptomatology which was commoner in both OSDs (22%, OR 4.8, 95% CI 3.4-6.8) and NOSDs (9%, OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.3) than in non-divers (6%).Conclusions There was increased symptom reporting in OSDs. However, there was no evidence to suggest any major impact on long-term health of UK divers who had started their career before 1991.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health status of professional divers and offshore oil industry workers

Ross

Macdiarmid

Osman

et al. 2007

Occupational Medicine

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“…However, the present study did not address the potential long-term neurologic hazards 19 being inflicted by asymptomatic ischaemic brain lesions which have also been found to be related to PFO in divers, 11 i.e., the effect of the cumulative cerebral ischaemic burden associated with PFO in divers is unknown. Accordingly, we advise a diver with a 2nd or 3rd degree PFO to refrain from diving.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Risk of decompression illness among 230 divers in relation to the presence and size of patent foramen ovale

Torti¹,

Billinger²,

Schwerzmann³

2004

ACC Current Journal Review

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Background The risk of developing decompression illness (DCI) in divers with a patent foramen ovale (PFO) has not been directly determined so far; neither has it been assessed in relation to the PFO's size. Methods In 230 scuba divers (age 39 ± 8 years), contrast trans-oesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed for the detection and size grading (0-3) of PFO. Prior to TEE, the study individuals answered a detailed questionnaire about their health status and about their diving habits and accidents. For inclusion into the study, P200 dives and strict adherence to decompression tables were required. Results Sixty-three divers (27%) had a PFO. Overall, the absolute risk of suffering a DCI event was 2.5 per 10 4 dives. There were 18 divers (29%) with, and 10 divers (6%) without, PFO who had experienced P1 major DCI events ðP ¼ 0:016Þ. In the group with PFO, the incidence per 10 4 dives of a major DCI, a DCI lasting longer than 24 h and of being treated in a decompression chamber amounted to 5.1 (median 0, interquartile range [IQR] 0-10.0), 1.9 (median 0, IQR 0-4.0) and 3.6 (median 0, IQR 0-9.8), respectively and was 4.8-12.9-fold higher than in the group without PFO ðP < 0:001Þ. The risk of suffering a major DCI, of a DCI lasting longer than 24 h and of being treated by recompression increased with rising PFO size. Conclusion The presence of a PFO is related to a low absolute risk of suffering five major DCI events per 10 4 dives, the odds of which is five times as high as in divers without PFO. The risk of suffering a major DCI parallels PFO size.

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“…There is still debate whether different and repeated diving exposures over time may cause long term effects on the nervous system in divers who have not experienced DCS [51][52][53][54][55][56]. Dolmierski [51] found that 30% of a group of air divers had abnormal neurological findings although only half of them had had DSC.…”

Section: Epidemiological Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%