Annual Diving Report - Divers Alert Network

Percent of Fatalities
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
4. DIVE FATALITIES
10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79
Age (Years)
74 Males
14 Females
Figure 4.2-1 Distribution of fatalities by age and gender (n=88).
Medical history was available in 35 cases (40 percent), although it was rarely complete. The most
frequently reported medical conditions were heart disease (13 cases, 15 percent) and high blood
pressure (8 cases, 9 percent). Two decedents were diabetic and one was asthmatic who used
inhalers. Other health conditions included breast implants, drug addiction, detached retina,
glaucoma, heart surgery 1.5 years before, hysterectomy, cholecystectomy, lymphoma, posttraumatic
stress from the Vietnam War, prostate cancer, coronary artery bypass, and history of
seizures (two divers). Smoking history was known for 51 cases in which seven were known
smokers and three were ex-smokers.
Figure 4.2-2 shows obesity in the fatality population as measured by body mass index (BMI;
weight in kg divided by height in meters squared). Except for individuals with increased muscle
mass, the level of obesity increases with BMI. BMI data available for 49 fatalities indicated that 26
percent were classified as normal weight (18.5 to