A Mediterranean Lifestyle Is Associated with Lower Hypertension Prevalence and Better Aerobic Capacity among New England Firefighter Recruits

Fan Yun Lan, Alejandro Fernandez-Montero, Ioanna Yiannakou, Orestes Marinos-Iatrides, Jacob T. Ankeny, Jeffrey Kiser, Costas A. Christophi, David C. Christiani, Mercedes Sotos-Prieto, Stefanos N. Kales

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective:Examine the association between healthy Mediterranean lifestyle practices and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among New England firefighter recruits.Methods:A MEDI-Lifestyle score was used to measure adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle (not smoking, increased physical activity, high adherence to Mediterranean diet, non-obese body mass index, decreased screen time, adequate nightly sleep, and napping) among the recruits. MEDI-Lifestyle scores were cross-sectionally analyzed with blood pressure, aerobic capacity, and other CVD risk factors.Results:Among 92 recruits, high adherence to MEDI-Lifestyle was significantly associated with a decreased risk of prevalent hypertension (odds ratio [OR] = 0.14 [0.03-0.71]) and a greater probability of high aerobic capacity (OR = 5.80 [1.05-32.05]) as compared with low adherence in age- and sex-adjusted analyses.Conclusions:Increased adherence to MEDI-Lifestyle is associated with a better CVD risk profile in firefighter recruits.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)466-471
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume62
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020 Jul 1

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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