Hypertension, Peptic Ulcer, and Diabetes in Air Traffic Controllers

The hypothesis that certain diseases might be unduly frequent in journeyman air traffic controllers working in towers and centers has been tested by reviewing the aeromedical certification examinations on 4,325 traffic controllers and 8,435 second class airmen. The subjects were all men who had an examination in 1969 to 1970 and at least one previous examination not more than two years before that. Quite compelling evidence has been adduced to support the hypothesis with regard to hypertension; on peptic ulcer the evidence is moderately strong and for diabetes it is slight but suggestive.