title: Prevalence of Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease in Pennsylvania (USA) Firefighters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Firefighting is a physically demanding profession. Heart disease remains the number one killer of firefighters. Many firefighters have multiple risk factors, putting them at risk for sudden cardiac events. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of risk factors for heart disease in a convenience sample of Pennsylvania (USA) firefighters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 160 firefighters in western Pennsylvania had height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI) assessed, and then were surveyed to measure their knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors. Data analysis included subgroup comparisons of age, BMI, waist circumference, and exercise for their impact on health risks in the study cohort. In particular, the researchers were interested in understanding whether the knowledge of risk was associated with lower measures of risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen firefighters (4%) reported a history of coronary artery disease (including stents/interventions). In this group, 69% to 82% correctly identified age, hypertension (HTN), high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and family history as risk factors for coronary artery disease. Fourteen percent were smokers, 41% had HTN, 38% had pre-HTN with only 12% receiving treatment, and 13.5% were treated for high cholesterol. Fifty-eight percent exercised regularly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While a majority of firefighters were able to identify risk factors for coronary artery disease, many could not. Eighteen (4%) had a history of coronary artery disease, including interventions. Many had several of the risk factors indicated, which highlights the need for an organized national approach to address the medical screening/evaluation, nutrition, and exercise components of firefighter fitness.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Emergency Medicine,University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-Hamot,Erie,PennsylvaniaUSA.
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Risavi
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Emergency Medicine,Columbia St. Mary's Hospital,Milwaukee,WisconsinUSA.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Staszko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D061388:Firefighters; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: BMI body mass index; EMS Emergency Medical Services; HTN hypertension; LDL low-density lipoprotein; cardiovascular fitness; firefighter; heart disease