Excess mortality among Indiana firefighters, 1985-2013

Firefighters are exposed to toxic agents increasing their risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease. We examined the odds of cancer and cardiovascular mortality of firefighters relative to a matched group of non-firefighters from the general population.

Firefighter death records were matched to four non-firefighter death records on age at time of death, sex, race, ethnicity, and year of death. Exact odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and P-values were calculated using conditional logistic regression to compare groups.

The odds of death due to malignant cancers was significantly higher for firefighters than non-firefighters (OR: 1.19; 95%CI 1.08, 1.30). There was no difference in the odds of death for cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic heart disease, between the two groups.

The study suggests the importance of early and effective cancer prevention strategies among firefighters including worksite health promotion programs and incumbent physical activity evaluation.