Heart muscle disease management in aircrew

Abstract

This manuscript focuses on the broad aviation medicine considerations that are required to optimally manage aircrew with suspected or confirmed heart muscle disease (both pilots and non-pilot aviation professionals). ECG abnormalities on aircrew periodic medical examination or presentation of a family member with a confirmed cardiomyopathy are the most common reason for investigation of heart muscle disease in aircrew. Holter monitoring and imaging, including cardiac MRI is recommended to confirm or exclude the presence of heart muscle disease and, if confirmed, management should be led by a subspecialist. Confirmed heart muscle disease often requires restriction toflying duties due to concerns regarding arrhythmia. Pericarditis and myocarditis usually require temporary restriction and return to flying duties is usually dependent on a lack of recurrent symptoms and acceptable imaging and electrophysiological investigations.