Table 3.
Physical characteristics and cardiovascular disease risk factors in firefighters from different leisure-time physical activity categories
| Level of leisure-time physical activity |
p | Adjusted p* | p (linear trend) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (n = 19) | Moderate (n = 30) | High (n = 46) | ||||
| Age (y) | 33.3 ± 6.2 | 35.7 ± 8.1 | 37.5 ± 7.7 | 0.131 | – | 0.045 |
| Height (cm) | 174 ± 5 | 173 ± 5 | 174 ± 4 | 0.306 | – | 0.359 |
| Weight (kg) | 70.2 ± 6.0 | 73.4 ± 6.5 | 74.8 ± 7.5 | 0.054 | – | 0.019 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 23.3 ± 1.5 | 24.6 ± 2.2 | 24.6 ± 2.4 | 0.053 | – | 0.046 |
| BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 | 3 (15.8) | 14 (46.7) | 20 (43.5) | 0.066 | – | 0.081 |
| Body fat (%) | 11.9 ± 2.1 | 12.5 ± 2.1 | 13.0 ± 2.9 | 0.264 | – | 0.104 |
| Waist circumference (cm) | 78.1 ± 5.1 | 81.3 ± 6.0 | 81.2 ± 7.7 | 0.209 | – | 0.149 |
| Systolic BP (mmHg) | 124 ± 10 | 122 ± 12 | 123 ± 11 | 0.790 | 0.239 | 0.877 |
| Diastolic BP (mmHg) | 75 ± 6 | 74 ± 8 | 74 ± 8 | 0.857 | 0.247 | 0.671 |
| TC (mmol/L) | 3.9 ± 1.5 | 4.5 ± 1.0 | 4.2 ± 0.8 | 0.172 | 0.213 | 0.408 |
| TG (mmol/L) | 0.8 ± 0.4 | 1.1 ± 0.8 | 0.9 ± 1.0 | 0.512 | 0.441 | 0.817 |
| HDL-C (mmol/L) | 1.2 ± 0.2 | 1.2 ± 0.2 | 1.2 ± 0.3 | 0.980 | 0.891 | 0.859 |
| LDL-C (mmol/L) | 2.9 ± 1.0 | 2.8 ± 1.0 | 2.5 ± 0.9 | 0.438 | 0.163 | 0.224 |
| Glucose (mmol/L) | 5.7 ± 0.6 | 5.5 ± 0.8 | 5.5 ± 0.6 | 0.723 | 0.709 | 0.495 |
| VO2max (mL/min) | 3,311 ± 333 | 3,371 ± 450 | 3,498 ± 398 | 0.176 | 0.081 | 0.068 |
| VO2max (mL/min/kg) | 47.2 ± 3.5 | 46.1 ± 6.3 | 47.0 ± 5.3 | 0.727 | 0.307 | 0.970 |
| HRrest (beats/min) | 71 ± 12 | 68 ± 10 | 64 ± 8 | 0.017 | 0.016 | 0.005 |
| RER at maximal | 1.15 ± 0.07 | 1.15 ± 0.07 | 1.13 ± 0.07 | 0.304 | 0.220 | 0.172 |
| Lactate at maximal (mmol/L) | 14.0 ± 2.2 | 13.6 ± 1.9 | 13.0 ± 1.5 | 0.115 | 0.163 | 0.039 |
Data are presented as n (%) or mean ± SD.
*p values were adjusted for age, BMI, and smoking status.
BMI, body mass index; BP, blood pressure; HDL-C, HDL cholesterol; LDL-C, LDL cholesterol; RER, respiratory exchange ratio; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglycerides; VO2max, maximal oxygen consumption.