Lung function and health status in metropolitan fire-fighters compared to general population controls

Abstract

Male metropolitan fire-fighters showed better general health, better lung health, and similar mental health compared to general population controls. The high rate of fire-fighters with FEV(1)/FVC values below the recommended cut-point for airflow obstruction illustrates the inappropriateness of this clinical cut-point for use in populations preselected on their physical fitness. The observed dose-effect relationship between self-reported occupational exposure and fire-fighters' lung function warrants further investigation.

The Global Lung Function Initiative 2012 Equations Are as Well-Suited as Local Population Derived Equations to a Sample of Healthy Professional Firefighters

“…Only never-smokers and firefighters with no history of doctor-diagnosed asthma or lung disease, based on questionnaire responses, were included in this analysis. Further details of procedures and equipment used in data collection have been previously described [11, 15, 16]. Calibration was performed on a daily basis using a three-litre syringe while zero flow was set immediately before each measurement.…”

“…We have previously shown larger forced expiratory volumes in one second (FEV 1 ) and, in particular forced vital capacities (FVC), in South Australian Metropolitan firefighters compared to age-matched controls, in both the entire sample and the majority who have no history of doctor-diagnosed lung disease [11]. Larger values may be attributable to a “healthy worker effect” [12], as well as the relatively high standard of physical fitness required for entry into the fire service.…”

Change in Lung Function over Time in Male Metropolitan Firefighters and General Population Controls: A 3‐year Follow‐up Study

“…Analysis of the baseline data of our firefighter cohort showed that those with the highest rate of selfreported exposure to dust, smoke and fire showed statistically significant lower FEV 1 , FEV 1 % predicted and FVC values compared with colleagues who reported being less exposed to these factors 15) . It has previously been shown that firefighters may be at increased risk of accelerated lung function decline, depending on their actual exposure to inhaled harmful substances during their professional duties 13,24,25) .…”

“…The study was a prospective comparison between two existing cohorts of study subjects, i.e., a cohort of South Australian male metropolitan firefighters 15) and a reference cohort of South Australian males randomly selected from the general population 16) . Data collection for the ongoing South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (SAMFS) study commenced in August 2007 and was completed in April 2011.…”

Association of cardio-ankle vascular index with physical fitness and cognitive symptoms in aging Finnish firefighters

“…1 The correlation between annual decline in maximal oxygen consumption during the 13-year follow-up and arterial stiffness assessed by cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) in final examination of aging Finnish firefighters (N = 65) decreased in average by 1.1% per year, which is in accordance with the normal reduction associated with advancing age from the fourth decade onwards corresponding to dramatic losses of muscle (Janssen et al 2000). It is known that firefighters are a healthier cohort compared with the general population (Schermer et al 2010). In addition, the subjects of the present study were physically more active during leisure time, were more seldom tobacco smokers and consumed less alcohol than Finnish men on average Helakorpi et al 2011).…”