The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #56951

David James Lee, PhD¹, William LeBlanc, Phd¹, Lora E. Fleming, MD PhD MPH MSc¹, Orlando Gomez-Marin, PhD, MSc², Dulce Jane, MA², and Terry Pitman¹. (1) Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, PO Box 016069, Miami, FL 33101, 305-243-6980, dlee@med.miami.edu, (2) Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, Highland Park Building, 1801 NW 9th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136

BACKGROUND: Firefighters have been shown in previous studies to be at increased risk of traumatic death; to date there has been limited research into acute and chronic disability among those employed in this high-risk profession. This study compares disability in 968 firefighters participating in the 1986-1994 National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS) with all other participating US workers (n=462,007). METHODS: After adjustment for sample weights and design effects using SUDAAN, several measures of acute and chronic disability were modeled using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: After further adjusting for age, gender, race-ethnicity, and education, compared to all other US workers firefighters were not more likely to report restricted activity or restricted bed days in the two weeks prior to the interview; however they were more likely to report one or more lost work days in the previous two weeks (Odds Ratio (OR)=1.36; 95% confidence interval (CI)= [1.06-1.76]). Firefighters were also more likely to report four or more doctor visits in the previous 12 months (1.29 [1.10-1.51]). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to all other workers, there is some evidence that firefighters are at increased risk of acute and chronic disability. It is possible that these associations are underestimates given the cross sectional nature of the data and the significant job demands of firefighting, both leading to a relative healthy worker effect. If confirmed in other studies, interventions designed to lower risk of acute and chronic disability in firefighters should be undertaken.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• ·Briefly describe the occupational risks associated with firefighting
• ·Describe the association between both acute and chronic disability in firefighters.
• ·Describe some of the advantages and disadvantages of using National Health Interview Survey data to examine associations between occupational status and acute and chronic disability.

Keywords: Disability,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.