Abstract P202: The Metabolic Syndrome and Shift Work Among firefighters in South Korea

Background/Aim: Multiple risk factors including dysipidemia, hypertension and hyperglycemia which cluster together are termed the metabolic syndrome. It means managing the metabolic syndrome is crucial to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD). Several studies found that CVD is the common disease and the leading cause of on-duty death among firefighters. Although importance of understanding to investigate risk factors that causes CVD among firefighter has been emphasized, research about it is still behind. Thus, to understand risk factor of CVD among firefighters, this study was examined an association between metabolic syndrome and shift work among firefighters. Methods: A total of 257 men firefighters were included from Firefighter Research Enhancement of Safety & Heath (FRESH) cohort in Korea. No history of CV related disease including hypertension and diabetes were selected. Weight circumference, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured. SBP and DBP were measured three times at interval of five minutes in resting and average of the three of SBP and DBP was used in this analysis. Fasting hyperglycaemia, Triglycerides and HDL cholesterol were analysed from blood sample collected from the participants. Metabolic syndrome, using the modified National Cholesterol Education Program (Adult Treatment Panel III) criteria, was defined. The information of shift works, smoking and alcohol consumption were self-reported from the participants and divided into three; no shift work, 24 hour shift work and 2 or 3 shifts works. To analysis the association between metabolic syndrome and shift works, logistic model was used, adjusting for age, BMI, smoking and alcohol. Results: 26 (10.1%) participants out of 257 were metabolic syndrome in the participants group. The unadjusted prevalence of the metabolic syndrome by shift works is 8.2% in no shift work group, 7.1% in 24 hour shift work group and 15.9% in 2 or 3 shifts work group. Adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% CI for 24 hours shift work was 1.51 [0.35 6.45] and 4.77 [1.08 20.9] for 3 shifts works. Conclusions: There is an association between metabolic syndrome and shift work in Korea firefighters, which implies shift work might be associated with CVD.