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Diabetes mellitus (DM) could cause pilot incapacitation and result in aviation fatalities. The mechanisms could be directly as a consequence of acute hypoglycemia/subacute diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or indirectly as an acute cardiovascular event by contributing to the development of atherosclerosis in coronary or carotid and cerebral arteries. In this study, DM-related fatal flight accidents in the US National Transport Bureau's database between years 2011-2016 were analyzed with special emphasis on postmortem (PM) glucose levels and correlation of toxicological reports with anamnestic information on DM. Additionally, autopsy results on coronary arteries were reviewed. In 43 out of 1491 (~ 3%) fatal accidents pilots had DM. Postmortem glucose or glycated hemoglobin percentage (Hb1Ac) was measured in 12 of the 43 cases; while antidiabetic medication was found in 14 of the cases (only two of the cases had both glucose measurements and medication). With the increasing prevalence of DM, a possibility of pilot incapacitation due to DM or complications of DM should be actively studied, even if no anamnestic information of DM was available. While PM hypoglycemia is difficult to assess, we propose a systematic investigation based on measurement of glucose, Hb1Ac%, and ketone bodies, and documentation of atherosclerotic lesions in major arteries to identify or rule out DM as a cause of pilot incapacitation.

Purpose: To evaluate the association between two measurement tools (Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale, SOFAS and Sheehan Disability Scale, SDS), returning to work (RTW) and their inter-correlation., Methods: 132 psychiatric patients referred to assessment of work ability participated. The association between SOFAS and SDS Work to RTW were assessed by logistic regression. Inter-correlations between SOFAS and SDS were assessed with the Spearman's rho correlation coefficient., Results: SOFAS and SDS Work scores were associated with a 1-year RTW and SOFAS and SDS were inter-correlated., Conclusions: When assigning the ability to work, both subjective and objective measures of function predict RTW.