title: Effect of Aspirin Supplementation on Hemodynamics in Older Firefighters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiovascular events are the leading cause of line-of-duty fatality for firefighters. Aspirin reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in men and may reduce fatalities in older (>40 yr) firefighters. We hypothesized that both chronic and acute aspirin supplementation would improve vascular function after live firefighting but that chronic supplementation would also improve resting hemodynamics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four firefighters (40-60 yr) were randomly assigned to acute or chronic aspirin supplementation or placebo in a balanced, crossover design. Arterial stiffness, brachial and central blood pressures, as well as forearm vasodilatory capacity and blood flow were measured at rest and immediately after live firefighting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total hyperemic blood flow (area under the curve (AUC)) was increased (P < 0.001) after firefighting with no effects for aspirin supplementation or acute versus chronic administration (AUC, from 107 ± 5 to 223 ± 9 in aspirin condition and from 97 ± 5 to 216 ± 7 mL·min⁻¹ per 100-mL forearm tissue for placebo; P < 0.05 for main, and P > 0.05 for interaction). Arterial stiffness/central blood pressure increased (P < 0.04) with no effect of aspirin (from 0.0811 ± 0.001 to 0.0844 ± 0.003 m·s·mm⁻¹ Hg⁻¹ in aspirin condition versus 0.0802 ± 0.002 to 0.0858 ± 0.002 m·s⁻¹·mm Hg⁻¹ in placebo condition), whereas peripheral and central systolic and pulse pressures decreased after firefighting across conditions (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Live firefighting resulted in increased AUC and pressure-controlled arterial stiffness and decreased blood pressure in older firefighters, but aspirin supplementation did not affect macro- or microvascular responsiveness at rest or after firefighting.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA; 2Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; 3Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, Greensboro, NC; 4Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Rehabilitation, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL; 5Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention, East China Normal University, Shanghai, CHINA; 6Department of Health and Exercise Sciences, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY; 7Illinois Fire Service Institute, Champaign, IL; and 8Division of Space Life Sciences, Universities Space Research Association, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Abbi D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Lane-Cordova
authors.forename: Sushant M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ranadive
authors.forename: Huimin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kappus
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Kanokwan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bunsawat
authors.forename: Denise L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Gavin P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ploutz-Snyder
authors.forename: B O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Fernhall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061388:Firefighters; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin