Lipid profile of firefighters over time: opportunities for prevention.
Heart disease is the primary cause of on-duty deaths in firefighters, but little is known about their lipid profile. We evaluated the lipid profile in relation to other cardiovascular disease risk factors in 321 firefighters at a baseline examination. Prospective comparisons were performed for 285 firefighters, who were enrolled in a statewide medical surveillance program, and had complete follow-up data for 4 years. The average cholesterol level in firefighters declined from 224 mg/dL at baseline (1996-1997) to 214 mg/dL at the follow-up examination (P < 0.0001). Conversely, both obesity (body mass index > or = 30; 34% versus 40%, P = 0.008) and triglycerides (> or = 200 mg/dL; 27% versus 35%, P = 0.047) increased over time. The proportion of firefighters taking lipid-lowering medications increased from 3% at baseline to 12% at follow-up (P < 0.0001). Cholesterol levels declined significantly, and treatment rates for elevated cholesterol increased over time. Despite repeated examinations, a considerable number of firefighters had persistently elevated cholesterol, and only a minority were receiving adequate treatment.
Soteriades
Elpidoforos S
ES
Cambridge Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Kales
Stefanos N
SN
Liarokapis
Dimitrios
D
Christoudias
Stavros G
SG
Tucker
Scott A
SA
Christiani
David C
DC
D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D012307:Risk Factors