Limited cardiovascular risk data are available for firefighters. This cross sectional study of data collected during annual physical examinations described the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among firefighters (N = 200) and examined relationships between body mass index (BMI) and other cardiovascular risk factors. Evidence based guidelines were used to determine prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and Framingham risk scoring was used to estimate probability of coronary heart disease (CHD). Firefighters ranged in age from 22 to 64 with a mean of 41. The prevalence of obesity, elevated total cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure in firefighters exceeded Healthy People 2010 targets. In addition, their prevalence of obesity, low high density lipoprotein (HDL), high low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high total cholesterol levels was higher relative to the general population. Elevated body mass index (BMI) values had positive significant (p ≤ .01) associations with elevated blood pressures, triglycerides, and glucose levels, and a negative significant (p < .05) association with lower HDL cholesterol levels. Fire department worksite health and fitness policies and programs should proactively target firefighters’ cardiovascular risks. Future firefighter related intervention research will benefit from considering not only the individual determinants of cardiovascular disease, but also the ecological framework that includes the influences of workplace and external environmental factors.
AndersonK.M., WilsonP.W.F., OdellP.M., & KannelW.B. (1991). An updated coronary risk profile: A statement for health professionals.Circulation, 83(1), 356–362.
4.
AustinM.A., HokansonJ.E., & EdwardsK.L. (1998). Hypertriglyceridemia as a cardiovascular risk factor.American Journal of Cardiology, 81(4A), 7B–12B.
5.
BarnardR.J., & DuncanH.W. (1975). Heart rate and ECG responses of fire fighters.Journal of Occupational Medicine, 17(4), 247–250.
6.
BarnardR.J., & WeberJ.S. (1979). Carbon monoxide: A hazard to fire fighters.Archives of Environmental Health, 34, 255–257.
7.
BatesJ.T. (1987). Coronary artery disease in the Toronto Fire Department.Journal of Occupational Medicine, 29, 132–135.
8.
BeaumontJ.J., ChuG.S., JonesJ.R., SchenkerM.B., SingletonJ.A., PiantanidaL.G., & ReitermanM. (1991). An epidemiologic study of cancer and other causes of mortality in San Francisco firefighters.American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 19, 357–372.
9.
BrownC.D., HigginsM., DonatoK.A., RohdeF.C., GarrisonR., ObarzanekE., ErnstN.D., & HoranM. (2000). Body mass index and the prevalence of hypertension and dyslipidemia.Obesity Research, 8(9), 605–619.
10.
CadyL.D., ThomasP.C., & KarwaskyR.J. (1985). Program for increasing health and physical fitness of fire fighters.Journal of Occupational Medicine, 27(2), 110–114.
11.
CalleE.E., ThunM.J., PetrelliJ.M., RodriguezC., & HeathC.W. (1999). Body-mass index and mortality in a prospective cohort of U.S. adults.The New England Journal of Medicine, 341(15), 1097–1105.
12.
ChoiB.C. (2000). A technique to re-assess epidemiologic evidence in light of the healthy worker effect: The case of firefighting and heart disease.Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 42(10), 1021–1034.
13.
ConradK.M., BalchG.I., ReicheltP.A., MuranS., & OhK. (1994). Musculoskeletal injuries in the fire service: Views from a focus group study.AAOHN Journal, 42(12), 572–581.
14.
ConradK.M., ReicheltP.A., MarksB., MeyerF., NicolaT., SamoD., & RoselloK. (2004). Evaluating changes in firefighter physical fitness following a program intervention. Manuscript in preparation.
15.
DavisP.O., & DotsonC.O. (1987). Physiological aspects of fire fighting.Fire Technology, 23(3), 280–291.
16.
DemersP.A., HeyerN.J., & RosenstockL. (1992). Mortality among firefighters from three northwestern United States cities.British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 49(9), 664–70.
17.
DenkeM.A., SemposC.T., & GrundyS.M. (1993). Excess body weight: An under-recognized contributor to high blood cholesterol levels in white American men.Archives of Internal Medicine, 153, 1093–1103.
18.
DenkeM.A., SemposC.T., & GrundyS.M. (1994). Excess body weight: An under-recognized contributor to dyslipidemia in white American women.Archives of Internal Medicine, 154, 401–410.
19.
DibbsE., ThomasH.T., WeissS.T., & SparrowD. (1982). Fire fighting and coronary heart disease.Circulation, 65(5), 943–945.
20.
EliopulosE., ArmstrongB.K., SpickettJ.T., & HeyworthF. (1983). Mortality of firefighters in Western Australia.British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 41, 183–187.
21.
Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus. (2000). Report of the Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus.Diabetes Care, 23(S1), S4–S19.
22.
Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. (2001). National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III report. Retrieved October 10, 2001, from www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/atp3_rpt.pdf
23.
Expert Panel on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight in Adults. (1998). Clinical guidelines on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults: The evidence report (NIH Publication No. 98-4083). Retrieved June 2, 2001, from www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/ob_gdlns.pdf
24.
FahyR., & LeblancP.R. (2001). U.S. firefighter fatalities.NFPA Journal, 95(4), 67–75.
GrundyS.M., PasternakR., GreelandP., SmithS., & FusterV. (1999). Assessment of cardiovascular risk by use of multiple-risk-factor assessment equations.Circulation, 100, 1481–1492.
31.
GlueckC.J., KelleyW., WangP., GartsideP.S., BlackD., & TracyT. (1996). Risk factors for coronary heart disease among firefighters in Cincinnati.American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 30(3), 331–340.
32.
GuidottiT.L. (1992). Mortality of urban firefighters in Alberta.American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 23(12), 921–940.
33.
GuidottiT.L. (1995). Occupational mortality among firefighters: Assessing the association.Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 37(12), 1348–1356.
34.
HartzA.J., RupleyD.C., KalkhoffR.D., & RimmA.A. (1983). Relationship of obesity to diabetes: Influence of obesity level and body fat distribution.Preventive Medicine, 12(2), 351–357.
35.
HeyerN., WeissN.S., DemersP., & RosenstockL. (1990). Cohort study of Seattle fire fighters: 1945–1983.American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 15, 267–282.
36.
HorowitzM.R., & MontgomeryD.L. (1993). Physiological profile of fire fighters compared to norms for the Canadian population.Canadian Journal of Public Health, 84(1), 50–52.
37.
Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. (1997). The sixth report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (NIH Publication Number: 98–4080). Washington, DC: National Institutes of Health.
38.
KalesS.N., AldrichJ.M., PolyhronopoulosG.N., LeitaoE.O., ArtzerounianD., GassertT.H., HuH., KelseyK.T., SweetC., & ChristianiD.C. (1999). Correlates of fitness for duty in hazardous materials firefighters.American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 36, 618–629.
39.
KannelW.B. (1996). Blood pressure as a cardiovascular risk factor: Prevention and treatment.JAMA, 275(20), 1571–1576.
40.
KarterM.J.Jr. (2002). U.S. fire department profile through 2001.Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association.
41.
KriegerD.R., & LandsbergL. (1988). Mechanisms in obesity-related hypertension: Role of insulin and catecholamines.American Journal of Hypertension, 1(1), 84–90.
42.
KristensenT.S. (1995). The demand-control-support model: Methodological challenges for future research.Stress Medicine, 11, 17–26.
43.
KuorinkaI., & KorhonenO. (1981). Firefighters’ reaction to alarm, an ECG and heart rate study.Journal of Occupational Medicine, 23(11), 762–766.
44.
LavenderS.A., ConradK.M., ReicheltP.A., JohnsonP.W., & MeyerF.T. (2000). Biomechanical analyses of paramedics simulating frequently performed strenuous work tasks.Applied Ergonomics, 31(2), 167–177.
MalleyK.S., GoldsteinA.M., AldrichT.K., KellyK.J., WeidenM., CoplanN., KarwaM.L., & PrezantD.J. (1909). Effects of fire fighting uniform (modern, modified modern, and traditional) design changes on exercise duration in New York City firefighters.Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 41(12), 1104–1115.
47.
MielusJ.M. (1995). Cardiovascular disease among firefighters. In OrrisP., MeliusJ., & DuffyR.M. (Eds.), Occupational medicine: State of the art reviews (pp. 821–827). Philadelphia, PA: Hanley & Belfus, Inc.
48.
MuskA.W., MonsonR.R., PetersJ.M., & PetersR.D. (1978). Mortality among Boston firefighters, 1915–1975.British Journal of Independent Medicine, 35, 104–108.
49.
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. (2000). Morbidity and mortality: 2000 charthook on cardiovascular, lung and blood diseases. Retrieved June 2, 2001, from www.nhlbi.nih.gov/resources/docs/00chtbk.pdf
50.
ReicheltP.A., & ConradK.M. (1995). Musculoskeletal injury: Ergonomics and physical fitness in firefighters.Occupational Medicine: State of the Art Reviews, 10(4), 735–746.
51.
SalazarM.K., & BeatonR. (2000). Ecological model of occupational stress: Application to urban firefighters.AAOHN Journal, 48(10), 470–479.
52.
SardinasA., MillerJ.W., & HansenH. (1986). Ischemic heart disease mortality of firemen and policemen.American Journal of Public Health, 76, 1140–1141.
53.
SoteriadesE.S., KalesS.N., LiarokapisD., ChristoudiasS.G., TuckerS.A., & ChristianiD.C. (2002). Lipid profile of firefighters over time: Opportunities for prevention.The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 44(9), 840–846.
54.
SothmannM.S., SaupeK., JasenofD., & BlaneyJ. (1992). Heart rate response of firefighters to actual emergencies: Implications for cardiorespiratory fitness.Journal of Occupational Medicine, 34(8), 797–800.
55.
SwankA.M., AdamsK.J., BarnardK.L., BerningJ.M., & StamfordB.A. (2000). Age-related aerobic power in volunteer firefighters: A comparative analysis.Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research., 14(2), 170–174.
56.
Technical Committee on Fire Service Occupational Medical and Health. (2000). NFPA 1582 standard on medical requirements for fire fighters and information for fire department physicians.Quincy, MA: NFPA.
57.
TornlingG., GustavsonP., & HogstedtC. (1994). Mortality and cancer incidence in Stockholm fire fighters.American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 25, 219–228.
WaltonS.M., ConradK.M., & SamoD.G. (2000, January 1). Assessing occupational injury and cost data for fire fighters.Chicago, IL: University of Illinois at Chicago Campus Research Board Grant 2-2-45841.
61.
WillifordH.N., DueyW.J., OlsonM.S., HowardR., & WangN. (1999). Relationship between fire fighting suppression tasks and physical fitness.Ergonomics, 42, 1179–1186.
62.
WilsonP.W.F., D'AgostinoR.B., LevyD., BelangerA.M., SilbershatzH., & KannelW.B. (1998). Prediction of coronary heart disease using risk factor categories.Circulation, 97, 1837–1847.
