Abstract
Background: Firefighters are placed under severe cardiovascular load in performing active duty and, when carrying various coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors, firefighters are predisposed to significant morbidity and mortality. Reducing the incidence of these risk factors is paramount. The purpose of this study is to determine the predictors of CAD risk. Methods: This study used a quantitative, cross-sectional and correlational design. The researchers conveniently sampled 124 full-time firefighters from the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service. A researcher-generated questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and CAD risk factors information, such as age, gender, ethnicity, family history of CAD, cigarette smoking and physical activity levels, and all research procedures were conducted according to the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines. Data collection took place between September and November 2019. Linear and logistic regression were used to determine the relationship between the various CAD risk factors and the predictors of CAD risk. Results: Age was a significant predictor of hypertension (p <0.01), dyslipidemia (p <0.01), diabetes (p <0.01), obesity (p <0.01) and central obesity (p <0.01). Gender was a significant predictor of obesity, central obesity and cigarette smoking (p <0.05). Waist circumference was a significant predictor of hypertension (p <0.01), dyslipidemia (p <0.01) and diabetes (p <0.05). Conclusion: Age was a significant predictor of various modifiable CAD risk factors, including obesity, in both genders and all ethnicities. Attentive monitoring should be in place as firefighters age, along with behavioural modifications designed to reduce age-related increases in CAD risk factors.
Highlights
Firefighting is a hazardous occupation, where firefighters are constantly exposed to harmful chemicals, fumes, and severe temperatures
waist circumference (WC) was a significant predictor of hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes. This is similar to the results reported by Damacena et al (2020), where increased WC was a significant predictor of total cholesterol, blood glucose and blood pressure, with firefighters being 1.71 and 2.94 more likely to have elevated total cholesterol and blood glucose concentrations, respectively
In conclusion, age was a significant predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD) risk, including obesity, and this was consistent across both genders and all ethnicities
Summary
Firefighting is a hazardous occupation, where firefighters are constantly exposed to harmful chemicals, fumes, and severe temperatures They routinely function in oxygen-deprived environments, which require the use of breathing apparatus and heavy insulated personal protective equipment (Smith et al, 2013; Smith et al, 2016; Smith et al, 2020). The prevalence of multiple coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors, obesity, diabetes, hypertension and age, significantly increase the risk of SCD (Smith et al, 2013; von Koenig Soares et al, 2020; Yang et al, 2013). Our previous study, conducted on the same population, indicated that increasing CAD risk factor prevalence was significantly related to age, obesity and gender in firefighters (Ras & Leach, 2021). Conclusion: Age was a significant predictor of various modifiable CAD risk factors, including obesity, in both genders and all ethnicities. Attentive monitoring should be in place as firefighters age, along with behavioural modifications designed to reduce age-related increases in CAD risk factors
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