To provide references for standardizing the post-operative aeromedical assessment of heart valve disease of flying personnel by analyzing the pathogenesis characteristics and treatment.

The case data of flying personnel with heart valve disease hospitalized in Air Force Medical Center from November of 2010 to December of 2021 were collected, which was called the clinical group; the relevant cases of heart valve disease in domestic flying personnel reported in the literature were retrieved, which was called the literature group. The retrospective study was carried out and the data was analyzed according to the aircraft type, lesion location, treatment method and identification results.

There were 20 cases in the clinical group. According to the number of detected cases, the valve positions order was the aortic valve (12 cases), the mitral valve (7 cases), the tricuspid valve (4 cases, all concomitant), and the pulmonary valve (1 case). The literature group had 11 cases, mainly were aortic valve disease (10 cases) and tricuspid valve (1 case). Most of these aortic valve lesions were based on the pathology of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). Among the cases of aortic valve disease, 12 cases were flight-qualified, 1 case was restricted flight, 1 case of fighter aircraft was transferred to fly transporter, 3 cases were temporary unqualified for flight, 3 cases were unqualified for flight, and 2 cases were waivered. Among the cases of mitral valve disease, 3 cases were flight-qualified, 4 cases were temporary unqualified for flight, 1 case of tricuspid valve and 1 case of pulmonary valve were qualified for flight.

The lesion site of valve is the main factor influencing the aeromedical assessment result. The aortic valve is the most common site of valve disease among flying personnel, and BAV is the most common pathologic type. It should be strengthened physical examination identification and prevention.

Heart valve disease; Eligibility determination; Aeromedicine; Flying personnel