Key result
Law enforcement work was associated with decreased endothelial function, with police officers aged ≤55 years exhibiting lower flow-mediated dilation than civilians (5.49% vs 6.49%; P=0.04).
Why the study?
Does employment as a police officer reduce endothelial function compared to a civilian population?
Cross-Sectional (n=490)
Does employment as a police officer reduce endothelial function compared to a civilian population?
Absolute Event Rate: 5.49% vs 6.49%
p-value: p=0.04
Urban police officers exhibit decreased endothelial function independent of traditional risk factors, suggesting occupational pathways contribute to increased subclinical cardiovascular risk.
May warrant occupational CV risk monitoring in police; leaves open causal pathways and need for longitudinal confirmation.
OBJECTIVE: Police officers were hypothesized to have decreased endothelial function, measured by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). METHODS: We compared FMD in police officers (n = 261) and a population sample of men and women (n = 229), all from the same geographical region and free of clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD). RESULTS: Compared with the population sample, police officers had significantly increased age-adjusted CVD risk factors (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, smoking prevalence, and alcohol consumption). Police officers exhibited lower mean FMD after adjustment for age, gender, and traditional CVD risk factors among those aged 55 years or younger (%dilation: police = 5.49%, population = 6.49%; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Police officers exhibited decreased endothelial function (lower FMD) compared with the civilian sample, which was not fully explained by traditional CVD risk factors, suggesting that other pathways may contribute to increased CVD risk in law enforcement work.
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Joseph et al. (2010) conducted a cross-sectional in Free of clinical cardiovascular disease (n=490). Law enforcement work (Police officers) vs. Civilian population sample was evaluated on Endothelial function, measured by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) (p=0.04). Law enforcement work was associated with decreased endothelial function, with police officers aged ≤55 years exhibiting lower flow-mediated dilation than civilians (5.49% vs 6.49%; P=0.04).
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