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Volume 18
Issue 10
10.3390/ijerph18105432
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Article

Hypertension in the United States Fire Service

by
Saeed U. Khaja
1,2,3,
Kevin C. Mathias
4,
Emilie D. Bode
4,
Donald F. Stewart
5,
Kepra Jack
6,
Steven M. Moffatt
7 and
Denise L. Smith
4,*
1
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL 60068, USA
2
Medical Advisor, Hanover Park Fire Department, Hanover Park, IL 60133, USA
3
Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
4
Health and Human Physiological Sciences, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, USA
5
Public Safety Occupational Health Center, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
6
HeartFit For Duty, LLC, Mesa, AZ 85206, USA
7
Public Safety Health Systems, Ascension St. Vincent, Indianapolis, IN 46260, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editors: Marta Ferreiro-González, Gerardo Fernández Barbero, Félix Zapata Arráez and Estrella Espada-Bellido
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5432; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105432
Received: 22 April 2021 / Revised: 13 May 2021 / Accepted: 15 May 2021 / Published: 19 May 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Police Officers, Firefighters and/or Militaries High-Risk Job Occupations: Assessment of the Different Threats and Preventive Measures)
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Abstract

Hypertension is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and cardiac remodeling and is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac events, the leading cause of duty-related death in the fire service. We assessed systemic blood pressures and prevalence of hypertension among US firefighters by decade of life. Medical records of career firefighters (5063 males and 274 females) from four geographically diverse occupational health clinics were assessed. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥80 mmHg, or taking antihypertensive medication. Results from the firefighter sample were compared to the US general population (2015–2016 and 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys). Among the total sample, 69% of firefighters met the criteria for hypertension and 17% were taking antihypertensive medications. Percentages of hypertensive male and female firefighters were 45% and 11% among 20–29 years old, respectively, and increased to 78% and 79% among 50–59 years old, respectively. Compared to the general population, male firefighters had a higher prevalence of hypertension (p < 0.05) across all age groups (11–16% higher). In order to improve firefighter health and protect against sudden incapacitation in this public safety occupational group, increased efforts are necessary to screen for and manage high blood pressure. View Full-Text
Keywords: blood pressure; firefighting; firefighters; cardiovascular disease blood pressure; firefighting; firefighters; cardiovascular disease
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MDPI and ACS Style

Khaja, S.U.; Mathias, K.C.; Bode, E.D.; Stewart, D.F.; Jack, K.; Moffatt, S.M.; Smith, D.L. Hypertension in the United States Fire Service. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 5432. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105432

AMA Style

Khaja SU, Mathias KC, Bode ED, Stewart DF, Jack K, Moffatt SM, Smith DL. Hypertension in the United States Fire Service. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(10):5432. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105432

Chicago/Turabian Style

Khaja, Saeed U., Kevin C. Mathias, Emilie D. Bode, Donald F. Stewart, Kepra Jack, Steven M. Moffatt, and Denise L. Smith. 2021. "Hypertension in the United States Fire Service" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 10: 5432. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105432

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