The health status of an ambulance service

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the current healthstatus of male ambulance personnel based in Belfast, takingthe opportunity to compare results with those from a comparablelocal survey of the general population. Risk factors for coronaryheart disease were assessed. Ninety-three men were studied.Blood pressure values were significantly higher (P<0.05)in the present study than in a comparable local survey of thegeneral population, with 23 per cent of systolic values beingover 140 mmHg and 27 per cent of diastolic readings being over90 mmHg. The incidence of self-reported smoking was also higherin the ambulance service (36 per cent) compared with the localpopulation (31 per cent). Computation of body mass indices forambulancemen showed that 52 per cent of personnel fell outsidethe acceptable range of 20–25 kg/m² with 10 per cent beinggreater than 30 kg/m², recognized as the threshold of clinicalobesity. With regard to serum cholesterol, 52 per cent of personnelexceeded the desirable threshold of 5.2 mmol/l, while 18 percent were above 6.4 mmol/l. In addition, the high density lipoproteinfraction was significantly lower (P<0.05) in the ambulancemencompared with the general population (mean±SEM: 1.10±0.3vs. 1.18±0.01, respectively). Although 54 per cent ofthe sample claimed to be physically active, only 35 per centreportedly took sufficient exercise to be of benefit to theirhealth. Cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly higher inthis group. The ambulance service nationally remains the onlyemergency service without a strategy for health and fitness.The results of the present study justify consideration of sucha programme.