Neonatology Fellow Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Background: Military aviation poses unique occupational risks, including exposures to intermittent hypoxia, high gravitational force, toxic materials, loud noise, whole-body vibrations, and cosmic radiation. In animal models these exposures are associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Objective: To investigate whether a female military aviation officer career is associated with adverse maternal or fetal health outcomes. Design/Methods: This study has been approved by the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Institutional Review Board. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of female aviation and non-aviation officers in the Military Health System from October 2002 to December 2019. Exposure was identified as assignment of an aviation occupation code. Maternal and fetal health outcomes were identified by International Classification of Diseases codes from the medical records. Regression analysis will estimate the adjusted relative risk (aRR) of maternal and fetal health outcomes. A post hoc power analysis will be performed. Data collection and analysis will be complete in November 2023.
