Exercise & Diet Effects on CV Risk in Firefighters

NCT ID: NCT03344198

Last Updated: 2023-08-07

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 200 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2018-11-25
• Study Completion Date: 2023-05-09

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.

Conditions

Cardiovascular Risk Factor; Blood Pressure; Exercise; Diet Modification; Health Promotion

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Firefighter (Veteran) Group

Firefighters with \>10yrs experience. Circuit Training exercise \& Modified Mediterranean diet

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Circuit Training exercise & Modified Mediterranean diet

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive circuit training program and a modified Mediterranean diet program. Educational sessions, serving size training, and portion containers will be provided. Participants will also receive individualized support throughout the 6 week intervention.

Firefighter (Novice) Group

Firefighters with \<10yrs experience. Circuit Training exercise \& Modified Mediterranean diet

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Circuit Training exercise & Modified Mediterranean diet

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive circuit training program and a modified Mediterranean diet program. Educational sessions, serving size training, and portion containers will be provided. Participants will also receive individualized support throughout the 6 week intervention.

Control Non-Firefighter Group

Non-Firefighter adults. Circuit Training exercise \& Modified Mediterranean diet

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Circuit Training exercise & Modified Mediterranean diet

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive circuit training program and a modified Mediterranean diet program. Educational sessions, serving size training, and portion containers will be provided. Participants will also receive individualized support throughout the 6 week intervention.

Interventions

Circuit Training exercise & Modified Mediterranean diet

Participants will receive circuit training program and a modified Mediterranean diet program. Educational sessions, serving size training, and portion containers will be provided. Participants will also receive individualized support throughout the 6 week intervention.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

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

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 70 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

American Heart Association

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

California State University, San Marcos

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of New Hampshire

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Deborah Feairheller

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Deborah L Feairheller, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

California State University, San Marcos

Locations

California State University San Marcos

San Marcos, California, United States

Countries

United States

References

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.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 35734390 (View on PubMed)

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.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 34985026 (View on PubMed)

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.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 37070561 (View on PubMed)

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.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 35096239 (View on PubMed)

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.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 36597210 (View on PubMed)

McMorrow C, Feairheller DL. Blood Pressure Responses in Firefighters: A Review. Curr Hypertens Rev. 2022;18(2):145-152. doi: 10.2174/1573402118666220103094201.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 34979891 (View on PubMed)

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.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 28628053 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

005-8242-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id