THE EFFECT OF THE ALTITUDE ZONE ON COGNITIVE FUNCTION FOR MALE PILOTS IN INDOCTRINATION AND AEROPHYSIOLOGY TRAINING IN 2019

DEBY HERATIKA; ARIA KEKALIH; WAWAN MULYAWAN; AMILYA AGUSTINA; DEWI SUMARYANI SOEMARKO; MINARMA SIAGIAN

doi:10.22159/ijap.2020.v12s3.39460

Authors

DEBY HERATIKA Aviation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
ARIA KEKALIH Department of Community Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
WAWAN MULYAWAN The Indonesian Air Force of Aviation Medicine, dr. Saryanto Institute, Jakarta, Indonesia
AMILYA AGUSTINA Aviation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
DEWI SUMARYANI SOEMARKO Department of Community Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
MINARMA SIAGIAN Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijap.2020.v12s3.39460

Keywords:

Altitude, Cognitive Function, Hypoxia, Pilot

Abstract

Objective: A pilot on duty at altitude can be exposed to hypoxia, both mild and severe. The incidence of hypoxia on a flight can be fatal, especially if hypoxia is experienced by a pilot on duty. One manifestation of hypoxia is decreased cognitive function. A pilot is required to carry out multitasking operations using cognitive functions, especially in an emergency. Therefore, decreased cognitive function due to hypoxia in a pilot can cause accidents in flight. This study aims to determine changes in cognitive function with hypoxia exposure at several altitude zones.

Methods: This study used an experimental one-group pretest-posttest design. The subjects were 31 military pilots who participated in Indoctrination and Aerophysiology Training. Subjects filled 6 Cognitive Impairment Test (6 CIT) questionnaires at ground level, efficient physiological zone (10,000 ft), and physiological deficient zone (25,000 ft) in a hypobaric chamber.

Results: There was a change of 6 CIT score at 10.000 ft compared to ground level (Friedman post-hoc Wilcoxon, P = 0.001). There was also a change of 6 CIT score at 25,000 ft compared to ground level (Friedman post-hoc Wilcoxon, P<0.001).

Conclusion: There was a change in cognitive function in the efficient physiological zone and physiological deficient zone, compared to ground level.

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