Descriptive analysis of prevalence and medical expenses of cancer, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, psychiatric disease, and musculoskeletal disease in Korean firefighters

Abstract

Background: Firefighters are exposed to many dangerous working conditions. Many studies have identified the risk of disease for firefighters, but only a few studies have addressed the medical expenses of firefighters, which represents a concrete scale of disease. Our purpose in this study was to determine the medical expenditures of firefighters to assess the overall scale of disease in Korea. We focused on cancer, mental disorders, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, and musculoskeletal disease, the prevalence of which was expected to be high in firefighters. Methods: This study utilized National Health Insurance Service data. We targeted firefighters, police officers, and government officials. We classified disease based on the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems codes. We compared prevalence by the age-standardized prevalence rate, considering standard distribution of the population. Medical expenditure of disease was defined as outpatient fees, hospitalization fees, and drug costs. Total medical expenditures were calculated by the sum of those 3 categories. Results: The age-standardized prevalence of cancer, mental disorders, and cardiovascular disease in firefighters was slightly higher than or similar to that of government officials and police officers (no significant difference). However, medical expenditures for stomach cancer, mental disorders, and most cardio-cerebrovascular diseases were higher in firefighters than in others. In particular, firefighters spent 12 times more money for ischemic heart disease than did government officials. Of musculoskeletal diseases, lumbar disc disorder had the highest expenditures among firefighters. Conclusions: The age-standardized prevalence of most of diseases of firefighters was not as high as in the other groups, but the medical expenses of firefighters were much higher than those of government officials and police officers.

Risk of Cerebro-Cardiovascular Diseases among Police Officers and Firefighters: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study

“…Overall medical cost is higher in firefighters compared to the general population, and the cost for cerebro-cardiovascular disease is much higher. 28 Since inherent occupational risk cannot be totally under control in police officers and firefighters, the occupational risks mentioned in the present study and previous studies need to be comprehensively accepted. In this context, cerebro-cardiovascular events in those occupations may need to be rapidly compensated as disasters on duty, and this approach may be applicable for tertiary prevention.…”

Non-cancer health risks in firefighters: a systematic review

“…Seven studies examining genitourinary disease were identified and reviewed [ 16 , 19 , 21 , 24 , 25 , 44 , 75 ]. Regarding the inter-comparison, most studies indicated a genitourinary disease SMR decrease between 0.38 and 0.54 in male firefighters as compared to the general population [ 16 , 21 , 44 ].…”

“…The models assessing male-factor infertility yielded the highest HR among full-time firefighters (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.94) in the male. In Vitro Fertilization model and the male National Patient Register model (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.98), compared to employees [ 75 ].…”

“…Compared with general employees, male firefighters have a higher incidence of circulatory diseases, such as angina pectoris, acute MI, chronic IHD, atrial fibrillation, and CVD [ 46 ]. Furthermore, full-time male firefighters have a higher risk of infertility than workers as hyperthermia, a major firefighting hazard, may impair male fertility [ 75 , 85 ].…”