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Hunter AL, Shah ASV, Langrish JP, Raftis JB, Lucking AJ, Brittan M, Venkatasubramanian S, Stables CL, Stelzle D, Marshall J, Graveling R, Flapan AD, Newby DE, Mills NL. Fire Simulation and Cardiovascular Health in Firefighters. Circulation 2017; 135:1284-1295. [PMID: 28373523 PMCID: PMC5377985 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.116.025711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rates of myocardial infarction in firefighters are increased during fire suppression duties, and are likely to reflect a combination of factors including extreme physical exertion and heat exposure. We assessed the effects of simulated fire suppression on measures of cardiovascular health in healthy firefighters. METHODS In an open-label randomized crossover study, 19 healthy firefighters (age, 41±7 years; 16 males) performed a standardized training exercise in a fire simulation facility or light duties for 20 minutes. After each exposure, ex vivo thrombus formation, fibrinolysis, platelet activation, and forearm blood flow in response to intra-arterial infusions of endothelial-dependent and -independent vasodilators were measured. RESULTS After fire simulation training, core temperature increased (1.0±0.1°C) and weight reduced (0.46±0.14 kg, P<0.001 for both). In comparison with control, exposure to fire simulation increased thrombus formation under low-shear (73±14%) and high-shear (66±14%) conditions (P<0.001 for both) and increased platelet-monocyte binding (7±10%, P=0.03). There was a dose-dependent increase in forearm blood flow with all vasodilators (P<0.001), which was attenuated by fire simulation in response to acetylcholine (P=0.01) and sodium nitroprusside (P=0.004). This was associated with a rise in fibrinolytic capacity, asymptomatic myocardial ischemia, and an increase in plasma cardiac troponin I concentrations (1.4 [0.8-2.5] versus 3.0 [1.7-6.4] ng/L, P=0.010). CONCLUSIONS Exposure to extreme heat and physical exertion during fire suppression activates platelets, increases thrombus formation, impairs vascular function, and promotes myocardial ischemia and injury in healthy firefighters. Our findings provide pathogenic mechanisms to explain the association between fire suppression activity and acute myocardial infarction in firefighters. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01812317.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Hunter
- From British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.L.H., A.S.V.S., J.P.L., A.J.L., M.B., S.V., C.L.S., D.S., D.E.N., N.L.M.); ELEGI/Colt Laboratories, Medical Research Council/University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, United Kingdom (J.B.R.); Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (J.M.); Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (R.G.); and Edinburgh Heart Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.D.F.)
| | - Anoop S V Shah
- From British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.L.H., A.S.V.S., J.P.L., A.J.L., M.B., S.V., C.L.S., D.S., D.E.N., N.L.M.); ELEGI/Colt Laboratories, Medical Research Council/University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, United Kingdom (J.B.R.); Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (J.M.); Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (R.G.); and Edinburgh Heart Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.D.F.)
| | - Jeremy P Langrish
- From British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.L.H., A.S.V.S., J.P.L., A.J.L., M.B., S.V., C.L.S., D.S., D.E.N., N.L.M.); ELEGI/Colt Laboratories, Medical Research Council/University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, United Kingdom (J.B.R.); Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (J.M.); Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (R.G.); and Edinburgh Heart Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.D.F.)
| | - Jennifer B Raftis
- From British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.L.H., A.S.V.S., J.P.L., A.J.L., M.B., S.V., C.L.S., D.S., D.E.N., N.L.M.); ELEGI/Colt Laboratories, Medical Research Council/University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, United Kingdom (J.B.R.); Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (J.M.); Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (R.G.); and Edinburgh Heart Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.D.F.)
| | - Andrew J Lucking
- From British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.L.H., A.S.V.S., J.P.L., A.J.L., M.B., S.V., C.L.S., D.S., D.E.N., N.L.M.); ELEGI/Colt Laboratories, Medical Research Council/University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, United Kingdom (J.B.R.); Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (J.M.); Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (R.G.); and Edinburgh Heart Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.D.F.)
| | - Mairi Brittan
- From British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.L.H., A.S.V.S., J.P.L., A.J.L., M.B., S.V., C.L.S., D.S., D.E.N., N.L.M.); ELEGI/Colt Laboratories, Medical Research Council/University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, United Kingdom (J.B.R.); Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (J.M.); Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (R.G.); and Edinburgh Heart Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.D.F.)
| | - Sowmya Venkatasubramanian
- From British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.L.H., A.S.V.S., J.P.L., A.J.L., M.B., S.V., C.L.S., D.S., D.E.N., N.L.M.); ELEGI/Colt Laboratories, Medical Research Council/University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, United Kingdom (J.B.R.); Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (J.M.); Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (R.G.); and Edinburgh Heart Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.D.F.)
| | - Catherine L Stables
- From British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.L.H., A.S.V.S., J.P.L., A.J.L., M.B., S.V., C.L.S., D.S., D.E.N., N.L.M.); ELEGI/Colt Laboratories, Medical Research Council/University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, United Kingdom (J.B.R.); Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (J.M.); Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (R.G.); and Edinburgh Heart Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.D.F.)
| | - Dominik Stelzle
- From British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.L.H., A.S.V.S., J.P.L., A.J.L., M.B., S.V., C.L.S., D.S., D.E.N., N.L.M.); ELEGI/Colt Laboratories, Medical Research Council/University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, United Kingdom (J.B.R.); Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (J.M.); Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (R.G.); and Edinburgh Heart Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.D.F.)
| | - James Marshall
- From British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.L.H., A.S.V.S., J.P.L., A.J.L., M.B., S.V., C.L.S., D.S., D.E.N., N.L.M.); ELEGI/Colt Laboratories, Medical Research Council/University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, United Kingdom (J.B.R.); Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (J.M.); Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (R.G.); and Edinburgh Heart Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.D.F.)
| | - Richard Graveling
- From British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.L.H., A.S.V.S., J.P.L., A.J.L., M.B., S.V., C.L.S., D.S., D.E.N., N.L.M.); ELEGI/Colt Laboratories, Medical Research Council/University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, United Kingdom (J.B.R.); Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (J.M.); Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (R.G.); and Edinburgh Heart Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.D.F.)
| | - Andrew D Flapan
- From British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.L.H., A.S.V.S., J.P.L., A.J.L., M.B., S.V., C.L.S., D.S., D.E.N., N.L.M.); ELEGI/Colt Laboratories, Medical Research Council/University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, United Kingdom (J.B.R.); Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (J.M.); Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (R.G.); and Edinburgh Heart Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.D.F.)
| | - David E Newby
- From British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.L.H., A.S.V.S., J.P.L., A.J.L., M.B., S.V., C.L.S., D.S., D.E.N., N.L.M.); ELEGI/Colt Laboratories, Medical Research Council/University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, United Kingdom (J.B.R.); Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (J.M.); Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (R.G.); and Edinburgh Heart Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.D.F.)
| | - Nicholas L Mills
- From British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.L.H., A.S.V.S., J.P.L., A.J.L., M.B., S.V., C.L.S., D.S., D.E.N., N.L.M.); ELEGI/Colt Laboratories, Medical Research Council/University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, United Kingdom (J.B.R.); Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (J.M.); Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (R.G.); and Edinburgh Heart Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (A.D.F.).
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