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Wildland Firefighter Work History and Clinical Indicators of Cardiovascular Health
Md Zahid Hasan1, Erin O Semmens, Kathleen Navarro DuBose
1From the Center for Population Health Research, School of Public and Community Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT (M.Z.H., E.O.S., C.W.N.); and Department of the Interior, Office of Wildland Fire, Boise, ID (K.N.D.B., L.K.M.C.).
Objective:
To determine the association between the occupational history as a wildland firefighter (WFF) and clinical indicators of cardiovascular health.
Methods:
Among 2862 WFFs, we evaluated associations between the number of total days assigned on fire and high-risk categories of three clinically measured cardiovascular indicators.
Results:
Almost one-third (32%) of WFFs had one or more clinical measures that would place them in high-risk categories for body mass index, blood pressure, and total cholesterol. WFF work history was associated with some of these measures: odds ratio (and 95% confidence interval) for highest versus lowest tertile of days on fire were 1.4 (1.2, 1.8) and 1.2 (1.0, 1.5) for high-risk categories of body mass index and cholesterol, respectively.
Conclusion:
More frequent screening and targeted health promotion programs for WFFs are warranted to increase awareness of cardiovascular risk and prevention strategies.
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