Relationship Between Health-Related Quality Of Life, Aerobic Fitness, And Body Composition In Professional Firefighters

Abstract

The firefighting profession requires high levels of physical fitness. Specifically, cardiovascular fitness has shown a strong relationship with the ability to perform occupational tasks. Despite this, not all firefighters maintain ideal fitness levels. Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of on-duty fatalities for firefighters. Recent data suggests the prevalence of obese and overweight firefighters exceeds that of the general US population. Obesity is often correlated with low fitness levels in the general population, however when aerobic fitness improves, favorable outcomes in health related quality of life (HRQoL) have been reported. The relationship between HRQoL, aerobic fitness levels and body composition has not been studied in the professional firefighter population. PURPOSE: To determine the relationship of HRQoL, aerobic fitness, and body composition measures in professional firefighters. METHODS: 16 professional firefighters (14 male; 36±8 yrs; 178±10 cm; 87.0±20.0 kg; 27.1±3.7 kg/m2) completed baseline HRQoL survey, BodPod, and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) test. HRQoL was assessed using the SF-36, with the physical and mental composite scores used for analysis. Body fat percentage was estimated using BodPod. VO2max was assessed using a graded treadmill exercise test. Descriptive statistics (mean ± SD) were reported. Pearson correlation tests were used to assess association between variables. RESULTS: Overall participant anthropometrics are as follows: body fat (23.5 ± 6.8 %), VO2max (44.9 ± 6.0 mL/kg/min), physical health composite score (56.5 ± 2.6), and mental health composite score (48.9 ± 6.1). According to BMI classifications 6 firefighters were obese (>30 kg/m2) and 4 were overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2). There were statistically significant negative correlations between VO2max and body fat % (r = -0.88; p < 0.000), and fat mass (r = -0.86; p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between physical health composite score and age (r = 0.57; p < 0.001). No other relationships were found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The observed inverse relationship between aerobic fitness and body fat percentage supports prior findings. The novel finding that HRQoL was not correlated with aerobic fitness or body composition measures in this sample may warrant further study.