Volunteer and Career French Firefighters With High Cardiovascular Risk: Epidemiology and Exercise Tests

Abstract

Objective: We aim to identify cardiovascular risk factors in firefighters of Loire (French district) with a high cardiovascular risk and report results of a screening program using exercise tests.

Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was performed in a cohort of 158 career and 400 volunteer firefighters with a high cardiovascular risk who had undergone an exercise test.

Results: Five hundred fifty-eight exercise tests and cardiovascular profiles were analyzed. Prevalence was 18% for high blood pressure, 19% for dyslipidemia, and 48% for overweight. Exercise tests were positive in 91 cases (16.3%): sensitivity, 53%; specificity, 74%. Risk of onset of a predictive event was higher in the high-risk group: odds ratio, 3.2 (95% confidence interval 2.0 to 5.1). There were more events on exercise test in volunteer firefighters.

Conclusion: Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the cohort of firefighters was acceptable in comparison to French general population and other firefighters' cohort. Physical training of volunteer firefighters needs reinforcing.