Firefighters' occupational stress and its correlations with cardiorespiratory fitness, arterial stiffness, heart rate variability, and sleep quality

PLoS One. 2019 Dec 23;14(12):e0226739. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226739. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

This study investigated the correlations between firefighters' occupational stress and cardiorespiratory fitness, arterial stiffness, heart rate variability, and sleep quality. We examined 705 male firefighters aged 40-50 years in Seoul City, Korea from November 2016-December 2017. The Occupational stress scale was used to evaluate occupational stress; an exercise stress test was administered to measure participants' maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max); brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity was used to measure firefighters' arterial stiffness; their autonomic nervous system activities were analyzed to determine heart rate variability (HRR); and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to assess their sleep quality. We divided the sample population into tertile groups per their occupational stress scores; i.e., low-stress group (n = 233), medium-stress group (n = 237), and high-stress group (n = 235). They were compared per each indicator and correlations were examined. There was a significant difference in VO2max (p < .01), and arterial stiffness (p < .001) according to occupational stress levels. Occupational stress was significantly correlated with cardiorespiratory fitness (r = -.820, p < .05), arterial stiffness (r = .085, p < .05), and sleep quality (r = .276, p < .001), but not HRR. In conclusion, Firefighters' occupational stress is a key factor behind their elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases; therefore, we recommend programs aimed at reducing their occupational stress and preventing cardiovascular diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cardiorespiratory Fitness
  • Firefighters*
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Stress / diagnosis
  • Occupational Stress / epidemiology
  • Occupational Stress / physiopathology*
  • Seoul / epidemiology
  • Sleep
  • Vascular Stiffness

Grants and funding

This study was funded by Sungshin Women's University Research Grant of 2017.