Longitudinal changes in cardiorespiratory fitness among firefighters based on a fixed 12.0 MET standard and an age-adjusted fitness standard

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Firefighting is a physically demanding profession. Firefighters (FFs) need adequate physical fitness (PF) to perform duty tasks efficiently. While FFs’ work demands are constant throughout their career, there is an expected age-related decline in PF. OBJECTIVE: To describe longitudinal changes in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) based on a fixed (12.0 METs) and an age-adjusted standard and compare the prevalence of fit/unfit firefighters (FFs) over eight years. METHODS: 297 Brazilian male firefighters were randomly selected. CRF was assessed by the 12-minute Cooper test. To compare the prevalence’s of fit/unfit FFs depending on the standard (12 METs vs. age-adjusted), the McNemar test was used. RESULTS: The reduction in the prevalence of fit firefighters was 4.4-fold higher when the analysis did not consider age. CONCLUSION: After eight years, the prevalence of fit FFs decreased by 30.5% based on the fixed standard, while this reduction was only 7% when using an age-adjusted standard.

Association of Endogenous Testosterone with Physical Fitness Measures during Firefighter Occupational Health Evaluations

“…TT deficiency and CM diseases share common risk factors such as obesity, age, and metabolic syndrome components [ 16 , 21 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. These risk factors are also related to PF, although the directionality of the relationship is often unclear [ 32 , 33 ]. Although a direct or reverse causality is yet to be clarified, our data support the hypothesis of a complex and negative vicious cycle among these factors, similar to the one proposed by Genchi et al According to this model, the relationship between obesity and hypogonadism potentiates a feedback loop so that each condition further exacerbates the other [ 34 ].…”

“…Although age is a non-modifiable CM risk factor, it is a factor that needs more attention from the Fire Service. A recent study pointed out that fire departments will shortly have more FFs working beyond 60 years due to changes in retirement rules in different countries [ 33 ]. This study showed a significant decrease of CRF (−4.42 mL·(min·kg) −1 ; ≈−1.3 MET) and a simultaneous increase in BMI (+1.25 kg/m 2 ) after 8 years of follow-up of a relatively young cohort of Brazilian military male FFs (36.2 years) [ 33 ].…”