Pulmonary Functions and Capacities and Their Associations with Sociodemographic, Physical and Behavioural Risk...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Pulmonology
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Firefighters face significant risks from toxic smoke and hazardous conditions, leading to potential pulmonary disorders.
• The study focuses on the health of full-time firefighters in the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of pulmonary symptoms and disorders in firefighters.
• To explore associations between these conditions and sociodemographic, physical, and behavioral risk factors.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative, cross-sectional study involving 278 firefighters using convenience sampling.
• Data collection included questionnaires, spirometry, and bioelectrical impedance analysis for physical characteristics.
• Statistical analyses comprised Kruskal-Wallis H, Chi-squared, and Pearson's correlation tests (p < 0.05).

Main Results:

• More than half (53.60%) of firefighters reported at least one pulmonary symptom, with coughing (54.36%) and nasal congestion (40.94%) being most common.
• Pulmonary symptoms were more prevalent in the 30-49 age group, with significant differences in pulmonary function related to age and obesity (p < 0.01).
• Negative correlations were observed between Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Fat percentage (BG%), and years of experience.

Conclusions:

• The findings underscore the substantial occupational burden of pulmonary health risks among firefighters.
• There is a clear need for implementing regular screening and preventive strategies tailored to the firefighting population.