AIM:To investigate and analyze the prevalence and the influencing factors on retinal arteriosclerosis in civil aviators of different ages.

METHODS:Two thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight commissioned civil aviators who received medical examination in Civil Aviation General Hospital from July 2014 to July 2015 were randomly divided into three groups: group A(1 311 aviators aged 22-39), group B(618 aviators age 40-49 ), group C(849 aviators age 50-59). Aviators over 40 years old, were divided into two groups: group with retinal atherosclerosis and group without retinal atherosclerosis according to the results of fundus examination. Medical examination data of the aviators were analyzed.

RESULTS: Of 2 778 aviators, 334(12.02%)were detected with retinal arteriosclerosis, among which 318 aviators were classified as gradeⅠ, and 16 aviators as grade Ⅱ. The retinal arteriosclerosis prevalence of group A, B, and C increased with age, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). Biochemical tests showed that the prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, high fasting blood glucose and overweight increased in group with retinal arteriosclerosis compared with that in group without retinal arteriosclerosis, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of retinal arteriosclerosis in commissioned civil aviators was 12.02%,and most of the retinal arteriosclerosis was classified as grade Ⅰ. In aviators over 40 years old, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, high fasting blood glucose and overweight were important factors in the development of retinal arteriosclerosis.