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Prevalence of Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease in Pennsylvania (USA) Firefighters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2015

Brian L. Risavi  and
Jason Staszko
Brian L. Risavi*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-Hamot, Erie, PennsylvaniaUSA
Jason Staszko
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital, Milwaukee, WisconsinUSA
*
Correspondence: Brian L. Risavi, DO, MS, FACEP FAAEM, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-Hamot Department of Emergency Medicine 201 State Street Erie, Pennsylvania 16550 USA E-mail: risavib@upmc.edu
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Abstract

Introduction

Firefighting is a physically demanding profession. Heart disease remains the number one killer of firefighters. Many firefighters have multiple risk factors, putting them at risk for sudden cardiac events. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of risk factors for heart disease in a convenience sample of Pennsylvania (USA) firefighters.

Methods

A convenience sample of 160 firefighters in western Pennsylvania had height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI) assessed, and then were surveyed to measure their knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors. Data analysis included subgroup comparisons of age, BMI, waist circumference, and exercise for their impact on health risks in the study cohort. In particular, the researchers were interested in understanding whether the knowledge of risk was associated with lower measures of risk.

Results

Eighteen firefighters (4%) reported a history of coronary artery disease (including stents/interventions). In this group, 69% to 82% correctly identified age, hypertension (HTN), high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and family history as risk factors for coronary artery disease. Fourteen percent were smokers, 41% had HTN, 38% had pre-HTN with only 12% receiving treatment, and 13.5% were treated for high cholesterol. Fifty-eight percent exercised regularly.

Conclusions

While a majority of firefighters were able to identify risk factors for coronary artery disease, many could not. Eighteen (4%) had a history of coronary artery disease, including interventions. Many had several of the risk factors indicated, which highlights the need for an organized national approach to address the medical screening/evaluation, nutrition, and exercise components of firefighter fitness.

RisaviBL, StaszkoJ. Prevalence of Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease in Pennsylvania (USA) Firefighters. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(1):102–107.

Keywords

cardiovascular fitnessfirefighterheart disease
Type
Brief Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 31 , Supplement 1 , February 2016 , pp. 102 - 107
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2015 

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