Effects of training flights of combat jet pilots on parameters of airway function, diffusing capacity and systemic oxidative stress, and their association with flight parameters

Table 3 Mean values and standard deviations of outcome variables DL_NO, DL_CO, K_NO, K_CO and V_A measured pre- and post-flights and of the corresponding percent changes post minus pre

Variable [unit]	Pre	Post	Delta or *ratio	95% CI of delta or *ratio	Minimum of delta or *ratio	Maximum of delta or *ratio	p value post vs pre
FeNO* [ppb]	17.9 (1.88)	15.8 (1.90)	0.889 (1.22)	0.857; 0.923	− 11.9	13.0	< 0.001
DL_NO [mmol × min⁻¹ × kPa⁻¹]	50.27 ± 5.92	48.72 ± 5.58	– 2.90 ± 5.01	–3.75; -2.05	− 18.9	11.7	< 0.001
DL_CO [mmol × min⁻¹ × kPa⁻¹]	11.03 ± 1.35	10.65 ± 1.28	– 3.24 ± 5.18	– 4.12; -2.36	− 18.7	9.0	< 0.001
K_NO [mmol × min⁻¹ × kPa⁻¹ × L⁻¹]	7.90 ± 0.73	7.77 ± 0.71	– 1.49 ± 3.71	– 2.12; -0.87	− 10.9	7.7	0.001
K_CO [mmol × min⁻¹ × kPa⁻¹ × L⁻¹]	1.73 ± 0.18	1.70 ± 0.18	– 1.91 ± 3.71	– 2.54; -1.28	− 13.0	6.8	< 0.001
V_A [L]	6.37 ± 0.60	6.28 ± 0.62	– 1.40 ± 3.11	– 1.92; -0.87	−11.5	5.6	< 0.001
DL_NO/DL_CO* [ratio]	4.56 (1.05)	4.58 (1.05)	1.004 (1.03)	0.998; 1.009	0.93	1.09	0.336

^*Regarding FeNO and DL_NO/DL_CO ratio post/pre are given, with geometric mean and standard deviation (in parentheses, to be interpreted as variability factor of the geometric mean). FeNO fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide (NO), DL_NO diffusing capacity for NO, DL_CO diffusing capacity for CO, K_NO diffusing capacity for NO per volume V_A, K_CO diffusing capacity for CO per volume V_A, V_A alveolar volume. Statistical comparisons were performed with a mixed ANOVA model comprising pilots as random factor and pre vs post as fixed factor, including an interaction between both factors that was never statistically significant. Significant (p < 0.05) changes are marked in boldface

ISSN: 2047-783X