Obesity, white blood cell counts, and platelet counts among police officers.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between several obesity indices (BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratios, and abdominal height) and hematologic parameters [white blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts] among police officers.


METHODS
The authors conducted this cross-sectional study among 104 randomly selected officers (41 women and 63 men) from the Buffalo, NY, Police Department. Anthropometric measures were performed by clinic staff, and fasting blood samples were drawn for complete blood counts. Pearson's correlation, Student's t tests, ANOVA, analysis of covariance, and linear regression were used to assess the associations.


RESULTS
Officers ranged in age from 26 to 61 years old and were predominantly white. Among women, current smokers had significantly higher WBC counts (7.4 x 10(3) cells/microL +/- 1.4) than former (5.2 x 10(3) cells/microL +/- 1.4) or never smokers (5.6 x 10(3) cells/microL +/- 1.5) (p = 0.002). Women had similar WBC counts but higher mean platelet counts than men (p = 0.005). Among women, abdominal height was positively associated with platelet count after adjustment for depression (p for trend = 0.039). Among women and men, a non-significant step-wise trend was observed between abdominal height and mean WBC counts before and after adjustment for smoking, race, and physical activity. No association was observed between obesity and platelet count among men.


CONCLUSIONS
Abdominal height was significantly associated with increased platelet counts among female officers. No significant associations were observed between obesity and WBC or platelet counts among male officers.
Charles
Luenda E
LE
Biostatistics and Epidemiology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505-2888, USA. lcharles@cdc.gov
Fekedulegn
Desta
D
McCall
Terika
T
Burchfiel
Cecil M
CM
Andrew
Michael E
ME
Violanti
John M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D016272:Occupational Health; D010976:Platelet Count; D016495:Police; D015995:Prevalence; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects