Clinical trial NCT03344198: Exercise & Diet Effects on CV Risk in Firefighters
Official title: Effects of Combined Diet & Exercise Intervention on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Firefighters & Civilians
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Cardiovascular Risk Factor
Blood Pressure
Exercise
Diet Modification
Health Promotion
Keywords: Cardiovascular Disease
Mediterranean Diet
Exercise Training
Blood Pressure
Lead sponsor: University of New Hampshire
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: American Heart Association
name: California State University, San Marcos
First posted: 2017-11-17
Enrollment: 200
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 70
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: The study will explore the capacity for a lifestyle modification in firefighters to improve blood pressure, blood vessel stiffness, inflammation, and reduce oxidative stress. The study will be a pre- post-testing controlled trial with three groups. The intervention will be a weekly circuit workout program and a Mediterranean (high fruit/vegetable) diet. The groups will be firefighters with \>10yrs experience, firefighters with \<10yrs experience, and control Non-firefighters.

Detailed description: Recent statistics from the American Heart Association (AHA) have reported that \>92% of adults in the U.S. meet at least 1 metric for cardiovascular disease risk factors. In firefighters, this increased risk is especially concerning. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) estimates there are around 1.3 million firefighters in the United States, 70% of which are volunteer. The prevalence of impaired cardiovascular health is higher in firefighters than in the general population and the leading line-of-duty death (LODD) cause is cardiac related. It is known that exercise and diet mitigate cardiovascular disease risk. Meeting the physical activity guidelines remains a target of ideal cardiovascular health and a major public health concern. However, the NFPA does not require volunteer fire companies to have a fitness program for their crew, and sadly less than a third of the stations actually do. And importantly, cardiovascular-related LODD remains a major issue in the firefighter population. The results could guide clinical treatment for firefighters and may therefore reduce cardiac-related LODD.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult
* Able to Exercise

Exclusion Criteria:

* More than one anti-hypertensive medication
* More than one cholesterol medication
* Diabetic
* Prior Cardiac incident

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in blood pressure
timeFrame: Pre-Intervention (Week 0), Post-Intervention (Week 6)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in vascular stiffness
timeFrame: Pre-Intervention (Week 0), Post-Intervention (Week 6)
measure: Change in cardiopulmonary fitness
timeFrame: Pre-Intervention (Week 0), Post-Intervention (Week 6)
measure: Change in body composition
timeFrame: Pre-Intervention (Week 0), Post-Intervention (Week 6)
measure: Change in inflammation
timeFrame: Pre-Intervention (Week 0), Post-Intervention (Week 6)
measure: Change in oxidative stress
timeFrame: Pre-Intervention (Week 0), Post-Intervention (Week 6)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: San Marcos
country: United States
facility: California State University San Marcos
state: California
Study officials:
affiliation: California State University, San Marcos
name: Deborah L Feairheller, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Donahue S, McMorrow C, Almeida AA, Feairheller DL. Feasibility and Perception of a Diet and Exercise Intervention Delivered via Telehealth to Firefighters. Int J Telerehabil. 2022 Jun 3;14(1):e6458. doi: 10.5195/ijt.2022.6458. eCollection 2022.
citation: Almeida AA, Reeve EH, Dickinson RL, Carty M, Gilpin J, Feairheller DL. Civilians Have Higher Adherence and More Improvements in Health With a Mediterranean Diet and Circuit Training Program Compared With Firefighters. J Occup Environ Med. 2022 Jun 1;64(6):488-494. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002478. Epub 2022 Jan 4.
citation: Feairheller DL, Smith M, Carty M, Reeve EH. Blood pressure surge with alarm is reduced after exercise and diet intervention in firefighters. Blood Press Monit. 2023 Jun 1;28(3):134-143. doi: 10.1097/MBP.0000000000000649. Epub 2023 Apr 12.
citation: McLaughlin KC, Perez AN, Donahue S, Feairheller DL. Tactical Circuit Training Improves Blood Pressure and Vascular Health More Than Resistance Training. Int J Exerc Sci. 2021 Nov 1;14(3):1320-1333. doi: 10.70252/CKXH1603. eCollection 2021.
citation: Rynne PJ, Derella CC, McMorrow C, Dickinson RL, Donahue S, Almeida AA, Carty M, Feairheller DL. Blood pressure responses are dependent on call type and related to hypertension status in firefighters. Blood Press. 2023 Dec;32(1):2161997. doi: 10.1080/08037051.2022.2161997.
citation: McMorrow C, Feairheller DL. Blood Pressure Responses in Firefighters: A Review. Curr Hypertens Rev. 2022;18(2):145-152. doi: 10.2174/1573402118666220103094201.
citation: Derella CC, Aichele KR, Oakman JE, Cromwell CM, Hill JA, Chavis LN, Perez AN, Getty AK, Wisdo TR, Feairheller DL. Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Responses to Gear Weight Under a Controlled Workload. J Occup Environ Med. 2017 Apr;59(4):e20-e23. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000997.