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. 2024 Dec 20;54(4):287-295.
doi: 10.28920/dhm54.4.287-295.

Modelling the risk factors for accidents in recreational divers: results from a cross-sectional evaluation in Belgium

Kurt G Tournoy  1   2   3 , Martijn Vandebotermet  4 , Philippe Neuville  5 , Peter Germonpré  6
Affiliations

Modelling the risk factors for accidents in recreational divers: results from a cross-sectional evaluation in Belgium

Kurt G Tournoy et al. Diving Hyperb Med. .

Abstract

Introduction: Characterisation of the recreational diving community could help to identify scuba divers at risk for accidents.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional evaluation in a federation for recreational scuba divers in Belgium (Duiken.Vlaanderen). Using binary logistic regression, factors predictive for accidents leading to hospitalisation were identified.

Results: Of the 710 members, 210 (29.6%) participated in the survey, representing 140,133 dives. Age was > 50 years in 55% and the median (interquartile range [IQR]) number of dives was 380 (IQR 140-935). Cardiac (9.5%), orthopaedic (11.0%), ear-nose-throat (ENT, 10.5%) and allergic diseases (30.5%) were the top four morbidities. Twenty percent reported taking cardiovascular medication. Decompression accidents, barotrauma of the ear and musculoskeletal injuries were reported in 11.0, 11.9 and 11.0%. Fifty-five divers (26.2%) reported incidents not necessitating a medical intervention. For 36 divers (17.1%), medical interventions were necessary. Among these, 13 divers (6.2%) were hospitalised at least once and 12 (5.7%) of these needed hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). The absolute risk for hospitalisation or HBOT was 0.01% per dive. Age, advanced diving qualification, more dives annually, cardiac or ENT pathology and cardiac medication were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of hospitalisation resulting from diving accidents. In a multivariate risk model, ENT comorbidity (odds ratio [OR] 9.3; P = 0.006) and cardiac medication (OR 5.6; P = 0.05) predicted hospitalisation due to a diving accident.

Conclusions: One in six recreational scuba divers required a medical intervention at least once during their career, while 6.2% were hospitalised or received HBOT. Ear nose and throat comorbidity and cardiac medication were strong predictors for accidents. These should be given sufficient weight in dive medical examination.

Keywords: Diving incidents; Diving medicine; Diving research; ENT; Epidemiology; Fitness to dive; Health surveys.

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Conflict of interest statement

No conflicts of interest were declared.

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