Title: | Association Between Atrial Fibrillation and Occupational Exposure in Firefighters Based on Self-Reported Survey Data |
Author(s): | Vanchiere C; Thirumal R; Hendrani A; Dherange P; Bennett A; Shi R; Gopinathannair R; Olshansky B; Smith DL; Dominic P; |
Address: | Department of Internal Medicine Temple University Health System Philadelphia PA. Louisiana State University Health ShreveportSchool of Medicine Shreveport LA. Department of Internal Medicine University of Cincinnati Cincinnati OH. Louisiana State University Health ShreveportCenter for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences Shreveport LA. Department of Cardiology University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Somerset Somerset PA. Department of Electrophysiology Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston MA. Overton Brooks VA Medical Center Shreveport LA. Louisiana State University Health ShreveportFeist-Weiller Cancer Center Shreveport LA. Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute Overland Park KS. Department of Internal Medicine University of Iowa Health CareCardiovascular Medicine Iowa City IA. Department of Health and Human Physiological Sciences Skidmore College Saratoga Springs NY |
ISSN/ISBN: | 2047-9980 (Electronic) 2047-9980 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Background Exposure to inhaled smoke, pollutants, volatile organic compounds, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the firefighting environment has been associated with detrimental respiratory and cardiovascular effects, making firefighters a unique population with both personal and occupational risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Some of these exposures are also associated with development of atrial fibrillation. We aimed to study the association of atrial fibrillation and occupational exposure in firefighters. Methods and Results A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2018 and December 2019. Data were gathered electronically and stored in a secure REDCap database through Louisiana State University Health Shreveport. Firefighters who were members of at least 1 of 5 preselected professional organizations were surveyed via electronic links distributed by the organizations. The survey queried the number of fires fought per year as a measure of occupational exposure, as well as self-reported cardiovascular disease. A total of 10 860 active firefighters completed the survey, of whom 93.5% were men and 95.5% were aged =60 years. Firefighters who fought a higher number of fires per year had a significantly higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (0-5 fires per year 2%, 6-10 fires per year 2.3%, 11-20 fires per year 2.7%, 21-30 fires per year 3%, 31 or more fires per year 4.5%; P<0.001). Multivariable logistic regression showed that a higher number of fires fought per year was associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (odds ratio 1.14 [95% CI, 1.04-1.25]; P=0.006). Conclusions Firefighters may have an increased risk of atrial fibrillation associated with the number of fires they fight per year. Further clinical and translational studies are needed to explore causation and mechanisms" |
Keywords: | *Atrial Fibrillation/epidemiology/etiology Cross-Sectional Studies *Firefighters *Fires Humans Middle Aged *Occupational Exposure/adverse effects Self Report atrial fibrillation cardiovascular disease firefighter risk factors smoke; |
Notes: | "MedlineVanchiere, Catherine Thirumal, Rithika Hendrani, Aditya Dherange, Parinita Bennett, Angela Shi, Runhua Gopinathannair, Rakesh Olshansky, Brian Smith, Denise L Dominic, Paari eng P20 GM121307/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ England 2022/03/24 J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 Apr 5; 11(7):e022543. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.022543. Epub 2022 Mar 23" |