Electrocardiographic Responses Following Live-Fire Firefighting Drills

Smith, Denise L.; Horn, Gavin P.; Fernhall, Bo; Kesler, Richard M.; Fent, Kenneth W.; Kerber, Stephen; Rowland, Thomas W.

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000001730

i

Electrocardiographic Responses Following Live-Fire Firefighting Drills

Supporting Files

12 2019
By Smith, Denise L. ; Horn, Gavin P. ; Fernhall, Bo ; ...

File Language:

English

Details

Alternative Title:

J Occup Environ Med
Personal Author:

Smith, Denise L. ; Horn, Gavin P. ; Fernhall, Bo ; Kesler, Richard M. ; Fent, Kenneth W. ; Kerber, Stephen ; Rowland, Thomas W.
Description:

Objective:

Firefighting-related environmental and physiological factors associated with cardiovascular strain may promote arrhythmias and myocardial ischemia, which induce sudden cardiac events (SCE) in susceptible individuals. The present study evaluated electrocardiographic (ECG) changes that may reflect increased SCE risk following simulated live-firefighting.

Methods:

Using a repeated measures design, ECG tracings from 32 firefighters were recorded 12-hours post-firefighting in a residential structure and compared with a 12-hour control period.

Results:

Ventricular Ventricular arrhythmias were present in 20%, and ST segment changes indicative of myocardial ischemia in 16%, of firefighters 12-hours post-firefighting that were not detected in the control period.

Conclusion:

Live-firefighting induces significant ECG changes that include ventricular arrhythmias and ST segment changes, which may reflect myocardial ischemia. The implications of such ECG changes explaining increased cardiovascular risk in firefighters warrants further research.
Subjects:

Adult Atrial Premature Complexes Electrocardiography Female Firefighters Heart Rate Humans Inservice Training Male Myocardial Ischemia Physical Exertion
Source:

J Occup Environ Med. 61(12):1030-1035
Pubmed ID:

31599801
Pubmed Central ID:

PMC8630674
Document Type:

Journal Article
Funding:

CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/
Place as Subject:

United States
Volume:

61
Issue:

12
Collection(s):

CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha256:85b4f47bd53b16ba0ec5e0e6902ca17b0c6471f6901753d93776cf5455a4086e
Download URL:

https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/112146/cdc_112146_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 218.01 KB ]

File Language:

English

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