title: High hsCRP is associated with reduced lung function in structural firefighters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the association between markers of systemic inflammation and pulmonary function in a population of structural firefighters.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied male career members of a large Midwestern fire department with questionnaires, spirometry, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) as a biomarker of systemic inflammation. We examined percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 %-predicted) and forced vital capacity (FVC%-predicted).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete data were available for 401 firefighters. Higher hsCRP levels were associated with lower lung function values, after adjusting for confounding variables. Specifically, for every twofold increase in log10-hsCRP, FEV1 %-predicted decreased by a mean 1.5% (95% CI: 0.4, 2.6%) and FVC%-predicted decreased by a mean 1.4% (95% CI: 0.4, 2.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  hsCRP as a biomarker of systemic inflammation may indicate reduced lung function in structural firefighters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Environmental Health (Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology Program), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Denise M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Gaughan
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Christiani
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Dorothee M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Baur
authors.forename: Lester
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kobzik
authors.forename: Gregory R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Stefanos N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kales
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D061388:Firefighters; D005390:Fires; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP); percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1%-predicted); percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC%-predicted)