A comparison of health data from River Forth pilots in Scotland: in 1988 and 2012

Dr Philip Rutledge, Public Health Consultant, Waverley Gate, 2 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3EG, United Kingdom, e-mail: philip.rutledge@nhs.net

Key words: marine pilots, routine health data, medical examinations, cardiovascular risk factors

INTRODUCTION

Several studies have documented that seafarers have higher mortality and are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease than the general population and a recent literature review that included nearly 58,000 seafarers and fishermen confirmed the high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in these workers [1]. Marine pilots (pilots) are a special group of seafarers who live ashore and work on board only when piloting. In the 1970s, studies in English and German pilots suggested that pilots had increased mortality from ischaemic heart disease similar to seafarers, but in the 1990s, Finnish and Swedish studies reported pilots’ mortality to be the same as the general population [2–5]. In 2012, a US study on inland waterway marine captains and pilots found a high prevalence of smoking, obesity and associated cardiometabolic risk factors [6].

River Forth pilots protect the shores and neighbouring urban environments of the Firth of Forth Estuary near Edinburgh, capital of Scotland, by ensuring that merchant ships navigate and arrive at their destination safely without mishap. Pilots meet and board ships at the mouth of the Forth estuary and assist ships’ captains in navigating and berthing their vessels (container ships, oil and gas tankers, cargo boats, passenger ships, etc.) at their designated harbour, dock, anchorage or oil terminal. Similarly they complete the reverse exercise when vessels head out of the estuary to the North Sea and beyond.

The importance of the role of the pilot is highlighted when there are accidents and these can have considerable harmful effects on the surrounding areas and the population. Notable examples have been the oil spills associated with the M/V “Sea Empress” near Milford Haven in 1996 and M/V “Cosco Busan” near San Francisco in 2007 [7, 8].

The aim of this study is to compare the health data collected during routine medical examinations in 1988 and 2012.

PARTICIPANTS

All the River Forth Pilots are experienced master mariners who have previously worked in the merchant navy. The skill of pilotage requires a combination of local knowledge, expertise, experience, communication skills and crew management. The job of the pilot has changed little in the last 30 years despite some technology improvements such as GPS, automatic vessel identification systems, communications and improved weather forecasting. In rough weather the pilots’ job can be physically challenging as it involves transfer between large ships and a small pilot cutter while at sea. In most instances this is still undertaken using a rope ladder without a safety harness. Marine traffic operates 24 hours a day so pilots work a shift system.

Forth pilots have complied with the Medical Standards of Fitness for Seafarers and undergone routine 2 yearly medical examinations by an Approved Doctor to the standards determined by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) [9]. Data on their health have been collected at each examination on a standard form (called ENG2) devised for this purpose.

There were 44 pilots working in 1988 and 27 pilots employed in 2012. There were fewer pilots involved in 2012 because of a gradual change to larger merchant ships and also a subsequent change in the pilots working rota. No pilots working in 1988 were working in 2012. All the pilots working on the River Forth are British and male. In the UK approximately 1% of marine pilots are female.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All the medical examination records (ENG2 forms) were identified for the 44 pilots working in 1988 and the 27 pilots employed in 2012. Health data under 10 headings had been collected and recorded in the same way. These were: age, height, weight, smoking status, alcohol intake, whether on prescribed medication, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and urinalysis for protein and glucose. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from height and weight information available.

The author recorded all data at the 2012 medical examinations and the majority of those from 1988. There was a high level of consistency in recording with no missing data in the ten health parameters identified.

RESULTS

Table 1 shows that the two groups have similar average age and average BMI. The average BMI was 26 but there were a greater number of overweight and obese pilots in 2012, 67% compared to 45% in 1988.

Smoking — 41% of 1988 pilots were current smokers compared to 7% in 2012.

The prevalence of smoking and levels of overweight and obesity were compared with data from the local population in Edinburgh, Lothian area, and also with data from maritime studies (Figs. 1, 2).

Figure 1. Overweight or obese — body mass index > 25

Figure 2. Smoking prevalence

It can also be seen from Table 1 that there is a reduction in alcohol intake, average blood pressure, prescribed medication, and detected glycosuria and proteinuria.

DISCUSSION

The observed reduction in smoking, alcohol intake and blood pressure, which are established markers for cardiovascular disease risk, in conjunction with other improved health improvements such as lower prescribed medication, absence of proteinuria and glycosuria, suggest that 2012 pilots have lower cardiovascular risk than 1988 pilots.

The most striking difference between the two groups is the prevalence of smoking, 41% in 1988 pilots compared to 7% in 2012 pilots. The level of 7% current smokers in 2012 compares favourably with the level of 19% found in the Lothian Health and Lifestyle Survey in 2010 [10]. 41% found in a US study in 2012 [6], and 37–72% in the literature review by Pougnet et al. [1] (Fig. 2).

Scotland is experiencing high levels of obesity [11]. In this study, 45% of 1988 pilots were either overweight (BMI 25–30) or obese (BMI > 30) compared to 67% in 2012 pilots. This compares with 58% from Lothian adults in 2010 [10], 28–67% from the Pougnet et al. review [1] and 89% from the US study of 388 inland waterway merchant marine captains and pilots in 2012 [6] (Fig. 1).

The strength of this study lies in the fact that data were collected and recorded in a consistent manner on a standardised form. The weakness of the study is that the numbers in each group are small. The smoking status, alcohol units and prescribed medication levels were those recorded after discussion with the examining doctor. Therefore as in all studies with self-reported details, the actual levels may be different.

In 2012 there were 52,200 MCA medical examinations performed by approved doctors worldwide, and the information recorded on paper forms. If the data were recorded on computer a very large database could be examined over time to monitor health trends. There is also the potential to identify other issues, such as results on fitness to work, any work restrictions on location, type of employment, and ill health retirement.

The 2012 pilots have an average age of 50 years and 67% are overweight or obese. The observed higher BMI in 2012 pilots is concerning as they have a physical component to their job when boarding and disembarking from vessels at sea. In rough weather this can be a challenging task to perform and potentially places them at risk unless they are physically strong and agile. This raises the question about their physical fitness and whether the periodical medical examination should include an agility or fitness test. In 1992 Saarni et al. [12] suggested that medical examinations of sea pilots should pay more attention to prevention of overweight, effective treatment of musculoskeletal symptoms, improving physical working capacity and helping pilots to manage their psychic stress. My experience from working with this special group is that most pilots would resist any proposal to change their medical examination. They would argue that they can tell when they are unable to perform their job and would not attempt a difficult transfer between vessels in rough weather if they felt it was unsafe. Certainly a high level of confidence in both their physical ability and in their decision making is an essential skill for the specialised job of a river pilot.

CONCLUSIONS

Observed changes suggest that pilots in 2012 have less cardiovascular risk than pilots in 1988. Smoking levels in River Forth Pilots reduced from 41% to 7% between 1988 and 2012. If the MCA were to collect and store routine health data electronically, rather than on paper, a large database of seafarers’ health data could be analysed in the future.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author wishes to thank Dr T. Carter, Chief Medical Adviser, MCA — Seafarer Safety and Health Branch, Southampton UK, for general advice on the content and write up of the study, Captain J. Hague, Chair Forth Pilots Association for general information about UK pilots, and all current and retired members of the Forth Pilots Association for their cooperation over the last 30 years.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The author is paid for providing medical advice to Forth Ports Ltd and is an Approved Doctor for the MCA to conduct medical examinations for seafarers in the UK.