To compare and analyze the differences of exercise cardiopulmonary function and the correlation of different cardiopulmonary function indexes among different aircraft types in pilots.

Retrospective study was used. The exercise cardiopulmonary function of 68 Air Force pilots who were qualified for flight in aeromedical identification were tested with the Italian Cosmed exercise cardiopulmonary function tester at a power increasing rate of 25 W/min. The subjects were divided into fighter group and other aircraft group according to aircraft types. The differences of exercise cardiopulmonary function between 2 groups were compared. The correlation between maximal oxygen uptake and age, body mass index, and the correlation between heart rate recovery and exercise endurance were analyzed.

There were significant differences in maximal heart rate, respiratory quotient and heart rate recovery value at 1 min after exercise between fighter group (32 cases) and other aircraft group (36 cases) (t=2.28, 2.50, 2.37, P=0.026, 0.049, 0.021). There was no significant difference in other indexes. The maximal oxygen uptake was negatively correlated with age and body mass index (r=-0.329, -0.339, both P<0.001). The values of heart rate recovery at 2 min and 3 min after exercise were positively correlated with maximal oxygen uptake and maximal exercise power (r=0.284, 0.290, 0.306, 0.268, P=0.001, 0.026, 0.002, 0.002).

The indexes of exercise cardiopulmonary function have significant differences among pilots in different aircraft types, and there are significant changes with age and weight gain. The heart rate after exercise can monitor the changes of cardiopulmonary function under different training conditions.

Acceleration; Heart rate; Exercise; Anti-G endurance; Maximal oxygen uptake; Pilots