Cardiorespiratory Fitness of Firefighters: Initial Results of a Multi-Phased Study.
cross_sectional · Level IV
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 33105400.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002067 and PMC identifier 7773167.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
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Abstract
To address which body composition (BC) measures best correlate with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in firefighters and develop a model for accurate CRF estimation compared with traditional methods. Career firefighters had body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) measured in addition to body fat percentage (FM%) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). CRF as maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) was estimated by rowing machine and measured by indirect calorimetry in a treadmill exercise test. Fifty two firefighters participated (92.3% men). Univariate correlations with BMI were best with WC. Univariate correlations with VO2max were best with FM%. Obesity classifications by BC measures agreed weakly at best. Multivariate analysis of several variables yielded an improved VO2max estimate (R2 = 0.70). Fire departments may benefit from more sophisticated measures of BC and CRF to evaluate firefighter fitness.
Medical subject headings
- Cardiorespiratory Fitness
- Firefighters