Deterioration of Lipid Metabolism Despite Fitness Improvements in Wildland Firefighters

Rosales, Alejandro M.; Dodds, Patrick S.; Hailes, Walter; Sol, Joseph A.; Coker, Robert H.; Quindry, John C.; Ruby, Brent C.

doi:10.1097/jom.0000000000002446

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 40 publications

(186 reference statements)

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“…Despite these acute improvements in cardiovascular and metabolic health, previous research has established detrimental alterations across a single fire season. 15,16 In 2019, Coker et al 15 showed seasonal increases in total cholesterol and LDL-C in a single crew. These results were confirmed across multiple crews in 2022, showing negative modifications in total cholesterol, LDL-C, VLDL-C, HDL-C, and total triglycerides.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These results were confirmed across multiple crews in 2022, showing negative modifications in total cholesterol, LDL-C, VLDL-C, HDL-C, and total triglycerides. 16 Importantly, the postseason values across these crews were quantitatively similar to those seen in the current study before CT. This suggests that despite the acute improvements seen in CT, it does not provide long-term cardiovascular and metabolic protection for WLFFs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…12 -14 In fact, recent investigations have illustrated maladaptive alterations in body weight (BW) and cholesterol across multiple WLFF crews in a single fire season despite apparent maintenance of aerobic fitness. 15,16…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[12][13][14] In fact, recent investigations have illustrated maladaptive alterations in body weight (BW) and cholesterol across multiple WLFF crews in a single fire season despite apparent maintenance of aerobic fitness. 15,16 To prepare for upcoming stressors and meet type I certification, interagency hotshot crews (IHCs) complete an 80-h preseason training period, referred to as critical training (CT), prior to being sent on national fire assignments. 17 Crews independently undergo CT using a wide variety of classroom and field exercises to meet operational training requirements under the discretion of the crew supervisor.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Wildland Firefighter Critical Training Elicits Positive Adaptations to Markers of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health

Christison

Sol

Gurney

et al. 2023

Wilderness & Environmental Medicine

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Introduction-The purpose of this study was to identify physiologic changes in body composition and resting metabolic markers of health across 2 wk of critical training (CT) in wildland firefighters (WLFFs).Methods-Twenty-two male and 3 female participants were recruited from 2 hotshot crews across the western United States prior to the 2022 fire season and monitored over their 80-h CT. Body weight (BW) and skinfolds were recorded before and after CT to estimate body fat (BF) and lean body weight (LBW). Blood was analyzed for changes in hematocrit, hemoglobin, plasma volume, and resting values of a lipid and metabolic panel.Results-The high physical demands of CT resulted in improvements in total cholesterol (−19.3 mg/ dL, P<0.001), triglycerides (−34.4 mg/dL, P<0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (−18.1 mg/dL, P<0.001), very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (−5.2 mg/dL, P<0.001), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (+4.0 mg/dL, P=0.002), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (−19.3 mg/dL, P<0.001), and fasting glucose (−4.3 mg/dL, P=0.008) from before CT to after CT. Significant decreases in hemoglobin and hematocrit were also seen (P<0.001) with corresponding increases in estimated plasma volume (+6.1%, P<0.001). These alterations were seen despite maintenance of BW, LBW, and BF. Lower pretraining BF was associated with a greater magnitude of improvements in fasting glucose and cholesterol markers.Conclusions-The observed improvements in baseline metabolic and cardiovascular markers along with plasma volume expansion suggest a positive response to the physical stress of WLFF CT. It appears that higher preseason fitness was associated with greater adaptations to the CT stressor.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Wildland Firefighter Critical Training Elicits Positive Adaptations to Markers of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health

Christison

Sol

Gurney

et al. 2023

Wilderness & Environmental Medicine

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Physiology of the Wildland Firefighter: Managing Extreme Energy Demands in Hostile, Smoky, Mountainous Environments

Ruby

Coker

Sol

et al. 2023

Comprehensive Physiology

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Wildland firefighters (WLFFs) are inserted as the front-line defense to minimize loss of natural resources, property, and human life when fires erupt in forested regions of the world. The WLFF occupation is physically demanding as exemplified by total daily energy expenditures that can exceed 25 MJ/day (6000 calories). WLFFs must also cope with complex physical and environmental situations (i.e., heat, altitude, smoke, compromised sleep, elevated stress) which challenge thermoregulatory responses, impair recovery, and increase short-and long-term injury/health risks while presenting logistical obstacles to nutrient and fluid replenishment. The occupation also imposes emotional strain on both the firefighter and their families. The long-term implications of wildfire management and suppression on the physical and mental health of WLFFs are significant, as the frequency and intensity of wildland fire outbreaks as well as the duration of the fire season is lengthening and expected to continue to expand over the next three decades. This article details the physical demands and emerging health concerns facing WLFFs, in addition to the challenges that the U.S. Forest Service and other international agencies must address to protect the health and performance of WLFFs and their ability to endure the strain of an increasingly dangerous work environment.

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Health effects of repeated exposures during wildland firefighting: a data-linkage cohort study from Alberta, Canada

Cherry,

Fedun,

Galarneau

et al. 2024

Annals of Work Exposures and Health

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Introduction Very little is known about the effects on the health of work as a wildland firefighter over repeated fire seasons. In Alberta, where the fire season runs from 1 March to 31 October, the great majority of firefighters are hired seasonally. We examined whether there was a dose–response relationship between hours of firefighting and ill-health. Methods A cohort was established linking employment records from Alberta Wildfire to administrative health data and cancer records. The employment records contained information on each deployment for all firefighters with employment from 1998 to 2022. Health records had details of diagnoses recorded at all physician consultations for the same period. Cancer records included diagnostic information for all confirmed cancers in the province. Exposure indices (hours worked) were related to health outcomes, with relative risk estimated by multilevel Poisson regression, using data lagged by 10 years for cancer outcomes. Results Of 16,816 firefighters with employment records, 12,731 were matched on name, age, and sex in health records and were living in Alberta at the end of at least one fiscal year. One in three had only been employed for one fire season with 10% employed in 10 or more years. The overall mean cumulative exposure was 795 h with 568 h of sustained attack (SA). In multivariable regression, adjusted for age, sex, and inferred First Nation origin, the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia increased with hours of firefighting on foot and decreased with fighting less complex fires or holding a permanent appointment. Hours of firefighting in the year of health report were protective for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mental ill-health but the risk of injury from external causes increased with firefighting hours. The risk of COPD, pneumonia, and asthma increased with cumulative hours over multiple fire seasons of SA firefighting and decreased with cumulative hours fighting less complex fires. Risks of CVD and mental ill-health were also positively related to cumulative hours of SA. No increase in risk was found with cancer incidence (all cancers, bladder cancer, lung cancer, skin: melanoma or nonmelanoma), with exposures unlagged or lagged by 10 years. Conclusion Wildland firefighters were found to be at increased risk of lung conditions, both acutely in the year of firefighting and in subsequent years. No increased risk was found for cancer.

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Deterioration of Lipid Metabolism Despite Fitness Improvements in Wildland Firefighters

Cited by 4 publications

References 40 publications

Wildland Firefighter Critical Training Elicits Positive Adaptations to Markers of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health

Wildland Firefighter Critical Training Elicits Positive Adaptations to Markers of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health

Physiology of the Wildland Firefighter: Managing Extreme Energy Demands in Hostile, Smoky, Mountainous Environments

Health effects of repeated exposures during wildland firefighting: a data-linkage cohort study from Alberta, Canada

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