Citation

Smith DL, Horn GP, Fernhall B, Kesler RM, Fent KW, Kerber S, Rowland TW. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2018; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Health and Human Physiological Sciences, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY (Smith, Rowland), Illinois Fire Service Institute, Urbana-Champaign, IL (Smith, Horn, Kesler), Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL (Horn), Department of Kinesiology & Nutrition, Integrative Physiology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL (Fernhall), Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (Fent), and Firefighter Safety Research Institute, Underwriters Laboratories (UL (Kerber).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000001730

PMID

31599801

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Firefighting-related environmental and physiological factors associated with cardiovascular strain may promote arrhythmias and myocardial ischemia (MI), which induce sudden cardiac events (SCE) in susceptible individuals. The present study evaluated electrocardiographic (ECG) changes that may reflect increased SCE risk following simulated live-firefighting.

METHODS: Using a repeated measures design, ECG tracings from 32 firefighters were recorded 12-hours post-firefighting (30-minute period) in a residential structure and compared to a 12-hour control period (30-min period).

RESULTS: Ventricular arrhythmias were present in 20%, and ST segment changes indicative of MI in 16%, of firefighters 12-hours post-firefighting. No such ECG changes were detected in the control group.

CONCLUSION: Live-firefighting induces significant ECG changes that include ventricular arrhythmias and ST segment changes, which may reflect MI. The implications of such ECG changes explaining increased cardiovascular risk in firefighters warrants further research.

Language: en