Cardiometabolic risk estimation in professional firefighters

Javier Lucas Tosoratto; Barbara Carriedo; Ana Cecilia Romero; Maria Banegil; Ángel Arturo López González; Hector Eugercios

doi:10.5281/zenodo13887819

Authors

Javier Lucas Tosoratto Multiprofessional Teaching Unit of Occupational Health, Balearic Islands, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0790-4953
Barbara Carriedo Multiprofessional Teaching Unit of Occupational Health, Balearic Islands, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6202-9162
Ana Cecilia Romero Multiprofessional Teaching Unit of Occupational Health, Balearic Islands, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5401-7436
Maria Banegil Multiprofessional Teaching Unit of Occupational Health, Balearic Islands, Spain https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3302-1638
Ángel Arturo López González Multiprofessional Teaching Unit of Occupational Health, Balearic Islands, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7439-8117
Hector Eugercios Multiprofessional Teaching Unit of Occupational Health, Balearic Islands, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8088-9609

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo13887819

Keywords:

Atherogenic risk, cardiometabolic risk, firefighters, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, obesity

Abstract

Objective: Cardiometabolic diseases are currently the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and are highly prevalent. Firefighters, due to the nature of their work, appear to have a high prevalence of these pathologies. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of variables related to cardiometabolic risk in a group of professional firefighters.

Materials and methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed in 2155 Spanish firefighters between January 2019 and December 2019. Body mass index (BMI) and CUN BAE (Body Adiposity Estimator from the University Clinic of Navarra) were evaluated.

Results: The study evaluated cardiometabolic risk factors among 2,127 firefighters, showing that 29.71% (n=632) were smokers, 27.7% (n=589) were sedentary, and 36.06% (n=767) did not follow a Mediterranean diet. The prevalence of hypertension increased with age: 14.75% (n=96) among those under 40, 19.71% (n=176) in those aged 40-49, and 39.97% (n=233) in those over 50. Total cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL was found in 48.47% (n=1,030), with LDL-c ≥ 130 mg/dL in 37.09% (n=789). Metabolic syndrome according to NCEP ATPIII criteria was present in 8.65% (n=184), while atherogenic dyslipidemia was noted in 3.43% (n=73).

Conclusions: Considering that the average age of our sample is not very high, the cardiometabolic risk in our group of firefighters can be classified as elevated.

Level of evidence: Level IIb

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