Cardiorespiratory Fitness Is Inversely Associated With Aortic Arterial Stiffness in Firefighters

Tom R. Nagel, Bridget F. Melton, Jason M. Keeler, Brett L. Cross, Wesley T. Blumenburg, Andrew A. Flatt, Lee Stoner, Gregory J. Grosicki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine whether cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), expressed as VO2max (mL/kg/min), is associated with resting AS (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity [cf-PWV]) and the AS response to simulated fire suppression activities in firefighters. Methods In firefighters (n = 20, 34 ± 8 years), AS was determined using cf-PWV (m/s) before and after a fire simulation exercise. VO2max was determined using a standard treadmill protocol. Linear regression models, adjusted for body fat percentage, are reported as unstandardized (b) and standardized (β) betas (effect sizes). Results H1: there was a moderate (ie, β = 0.5-0.8), inverse association between cf-PWV and VO2max (b = -0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.14 to -0.02; β = 0.71). H2: there was a moderate, positive association between Δcf-PWV and VO2max (b = 0.05; 95% CI, 0.00-0.10; β = 0.62). Conclusions These findings indicate that CRF may protect against arterial stiffening in firefighters.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)E641-E646
JournalJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume64
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2022

Keywords

  • cardiovascular disease
  • coronary heart disease
  • exercise
  • pulse wave velocity
  • vascular

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