Wildland Firefighting: Adverse Influence on Indices of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health

Robert H. Coker; Carl J. Murphy; Michelle Johannsen; Grant Galvin; Brent C. Ruby

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000001535

Wildland Firefighting: Adverse Influence on Indices of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health

Robert H. Coker
, Carl J. Murphy
, Michelle Johannsen
, Grant Galvin
, Brent C. Ruby

School of Integrative Physiology and Athletic Training

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective:The purpose of this study was to evaluate pre-and postseason measures of body composition, skeletal muscle, and blood parameters/liver lipid in wildland firefighters (WLFF) over the fire season.Methods:Alaskan WLFF (N = 27) crews were evaluated pre-and postwildfire season, which included 63 ± 10 operational days. Body composition, thigh muscle area, and liver lipid were quantified using dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. Blood metabolic and lipid panels were also collected and analyzed.Results:Total body, fat, and visceral fat mass increased from pre-to postseason (P < 0.05). Total cholesterol, LDL, and total globulin also increased (P < 0.05). There was a trend (P = 0.06) towards an increase in intrahepatic lipid.Conclusions:The observed maladaptive changes in adipose tissue, blood lipids, and hepatic function may reflect adaptations/consequences to occupational demands/conditions and warrant evaluation of appropriate countermeasures.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	E91-E94
Journal	Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume	61
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001535
State	Published - Mar 1 2019

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by an Institutional Develop-ment Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under grant number P20GM103395 and the United States Forest Service (USFS), Missoula Technology and Development Center. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the official views of the NIH and/or the USFS.

Funders	Funder number
Missoula Technology and Development Center
United States Forest Service
P20GM103395

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

body composition
cholesterol
intrahepatic lipid
metabolic
wildland firefighter

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10.1097/JOM.0000000000001535

Cite this

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title = "Wildland Firefighting: Adverse Influence on Indices of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health",

abstract = "Objective:The purpose of this study was to evaluate pre-and postseason measures of body composition, skeletal muscle, and blood parameters/liver lipid in wildland firefighters (WLFF) over the fire season.Methods:Alaskan WLFF (N = 27) crews were evaluated pre-and postwildfire season, which included 63 ± 10 operational days. Body composition, thigh muscle area, and liver lipid were quantified using dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. Blood metabolic and lipid panels were also collected and analyzed.Results:Total body, fat, and visceral fat mass increased from pre-to postseason (P < 0.05). Total cholesterol, LDL, and total globulin also increased (P < 0.05). There was a trend (P = 0.06) towards an increase in intrahepatic lipid.Conclusions:The observed maladaptive changes in adipose tissue, blood lipids, and hepatic function may reflect adaptations/consequences to occupational demands/conditions and warrant evaluation of appropriate countermeasures.",

keywords = "body composition, cholesterol, intrahepatic lipid, metabolic, wildland firefighter",

author = "Coker, \{Robert H.\} and Murphy, \{Carl J.\} and Michelle Johannsen and Grant Galvin and Ruby, \{Brent C.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.",

year = "2019",

month = mar,

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doi = "10.1097/JOM.0000000000001535",

language = "English",

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T1 - Wildland Firefighting

T2 - Adverse Influence on Indices of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health

AU - Coker, Robert H.

AU - Murphy, Carl J.

AU - Johannsen, Michelle

AU - Galvin, Grant

AU - Ruby, Brent C.

PY - 2019/3/1

Y1 - 2019/3/1

N2 - Objective:The purpose of this study was to evaluate pre-and postseason measures of body composition, skeletal muscle, and blood parameters/liver lipid in wildland firefighters (WLFF) over the fire season.Methods:Alaskan WLFF (N = 27) crews were evaluated pre-and postwildfire season, which included 63 ± 10 operational days. Body composition, thigh muscle area, and liver lipid were quantified using dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. Blood metabolic and lipid panels were also collected and analyzed.Results:Total body, fat, and visceral fat mass increased from pre-to postseason (P < 0.05). Total cholesterol, LDL, and total globulin also increased (P < 0.05). There was a trend (P = 0.06) towards an increase in intrahepatic lipid.Conclusions:The observed maladaptive changes in adipose tissue, blood lipids, and hepatic function may reflect adaptations/consequences to occupational demands/conditions and warrant evaluation of appropriate countermeasures.

AB - Objective:The purpose of this study was to evaluate pre-and postseason measures of body composition, skeletal muscle, and blood parameters/liver lipid in wildland firefighters (WLFF) over the fire season.Methods:Alaskan WLFF (N = 27) crews were evaluated pre-and postwildfire season, which included 63 ± 10 operational days. Body composition, thigh muscle area, and liver lipid were quantified using dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. Blood metabolic and lipid panels were also collected and analyzed.Results:Total body, fat, and visceral fat mass increased from pre-to postseason (P < 0.05). Total cholesterol, LDL, and total globulin also increased (P < 0.05). There was a trend (P = 0.06) towards an increase in intrahepatic lipid.Conclusions:The observed maladaptive changes in adipose tissue, blood lipids, and hepatic function may reflect adaptations/consequences to occupational demands/conditions and warrant evaluation of appropriate countermeasures.

KW - body composition

KW - cholesterol

KW - intrahepatic lipid

KW - metabolic

KW - wildland firefighter

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IS - 3

ER -

Wildland Firefighting: Adverse Influence on Indices of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

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