Cardiorespiratory fitness in a representative sample of Belgian firefighters

Abstract

Background: An important aspect of occupational health surveillance of firefighters is cardiorespiratory fitness. In Belgium, representative data on firefighters' cardiorespiratory fitness assessed in a standardized way are lacking.

Aims: To report data on cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index (BMI) and total body fat percentage in a large cohort of Belgian firefighters; to relate the data on cardiorespiratory fitness to the new Belgian criteria and to explore the relationship of cardiorespiratory fitness with age, BMI and total body fat.

Methods: VO2-max was assessed in male firefighters by maximal exercise test on a treadmill. Total body fat percentage was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Stratified analyses of mean VO2-max and proportions of subjects that did not meet the criteria were performed for different age, total body fat percentage and BMI categories. Relationships between VO2-max and the continuous variables were explored in univariate (correlation coefficients) and multivariate analyses (multiple linear regression analysis).

Results: In 1225 participating firefighters (96% participation rate), mean VO2-max was 46.5 ml/kg/min. Percentages of subjects that did not meet the criteria ranged from 1 to 83% depending on age, BMI and total body fat percentage. Both in univariate and multivariate analyses, strongly significant relationships were found between VO2-max and age, BMI and total body fat percentage, the latter being the strongest predictor.

Conclusions: The study provided representative data on cardiorespiratory fitness, BMI and total body fat percentage for Belgian firefighters. The findings suggest the need for a structural approach on healthy eating and regular physical exercise in firefighters.

Keywords: Age; VO2-max.; body mass index; cardiorespiratory fitness; dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; firefighters; total body fat.