Abstract:

Long COVID was defined as a symptom that persisted for at least 2 months after the onset of illness or 3 months after the diagnosis of an asymptomatic person with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and could not be explained by other diagnoses. Presently, long COVID, as a syndrome objectively existing in some patients after COVID-19, with multiple organ systems involved and various clinical symptoms, has not yet reached a consensus on the diagnosis. The possible pathophysiology, risk factors, and treatments of long COVID remain unclear, with our current understanding incomplete. Increasing evidences shows that cardiac, pulmonary, and coagulation disorders and neuropsychological sequelae can occur even in healthy young adults with COVID-19. The underlying manifestations may lead to decreased operational effectiveness and potentially cause sudden incapacitation of helicopter aircrews. However, there are few relevant articles on the effect of long COVID on helicopter pilots. Therefore, this article starts with the effect of long COVID on various systems of the body of flying personnel, summarizes previous studies, and aims to clarify the diagnostic basis of long COVID and how it affects the performance of flying personnel. From the perspective of aviation health support, the integrated intervention measures after long COVID are presented concerning strengthening the physical examination and health appraisal of helicopter pilots, controlling flight operation release standards, health supervision throughout the entire flight process, standardized vaccination, supplementation of special medical food and nutrients, and comprehensive psychological rehabilitation intervention. It aims to provide ideas for the health care and re-flight inspection of helicopter flying personnel after recovery from COVID-19 infection.

Key words: Long COVID, Operational efficiency, Fatigue, Cognitive impairment, Spatial disorientation