Prehosp Emerg Care. 2022 May-Jun;26(3):380-390. doi: 10.1080/10903127.2021.1907492. Epub 2021 Apr 13.
Shift work is an established risk factor for weight gain, cardiovascular disease, Type II diabetes mellitus, and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Prolonged exposure to shift work is common in paramedics and other emergency medical service (EMS) providers. Sub-populations of EMS workers may have varying health outcomes when exposed to shift work, but the reasons for this have not been investigated. We sought to describe cardiometabolic health, dietary patterns, physical activity, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a sample of experienced intensive care flight paramedics (ICFPs) working for a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS). Fifteen paramedics (median age 45, IQR 42-48 years) were recruited to undertake a range of health assessments. These included a food frequency questionnaire to assess dietary patterns, sampling of biomarkers to determine cardiometabolic health risk, maximal aerobic capacity assessment via treadmill running and assessment of HRQoL via the SF-36 survey. In an extension of the study protocol, ten of the fifteen participants wore a physical activity monitor for one year. Median (IQR) weight was 79.9 (72.3-89.3) kg, body fat percentage 23.3 (21.9-26.5) %, body mass index (BMI) 25.1 (21.9-27.4) kg.m, and waist to height ratio 0.48 (0.45-0.54). Dietary analyses showed high discretionary food intake. Biomarkers of cardiometabolic health risk were all within normal range. HRQoL was 86.2/100 for physical health and 85.1/100 for mental health. V̇O was 47.0 (43.0-54.6) mL.kg.min. The ten participants that wore activity monitors completed 11,235 (8334-15,380) steps per day and undertook 50 (12-98) minutes per day/350 (84-686) minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity. The least amount of physical activity was conducted on day shifts. For ICFPs included in this study, HRQoL, cardiometabolic and physical activity outcomes are representative of good health. Although shift work influences the amount of physical activity, ICFPs exceeded minimum recommendations even when rostered to duty. Despite lengthy careers in EMS, ICFPs demonstrate an excellent health profile that is likely due to high physical activity levels and healthy BMI. This information may be useful in guiding health interventions in the wider EMS workforce.
轮班工作是体重增加、心血管疾病、II 型糖尿病和健康相关生活质量（HRQoL）受损的既定风险因素。在护理人员和其他紧急医疗服务（EMS）提供者中，长时间暴露于轮班工作是很常见的。在接触轮班工作时，EMS 工作人员的亚人群可能会有不同的健康结果，但尚未对此进行调查。我们旨在描述经验丰富的重症监护飞行护理人员（ICFPs）的心脏代谢健康、饮食模式、体力活动和健康相关生活质量（HRQoL），他们为直升机紧急医疗服务（HEMS）工作。招募了 15 名护理人员（中位数年龄为 45 岁，IQR 为 42-48 岁）进行一系列健康评估。这些评估包括食物频率问卷，以评估饮食模式，采样生物标志物以确定心脏代谢健康风险，通过跑步机跑步进行最大有氧能力评估以及通过 SF-36 调查评估 HRQoL。作为研究方案的扩展，15 名参与者中的 10 名佩戴了一年的活动监测器。中位数（IQR）体重为 79.9（72.3-89.3）kg，体脂百分比为 23.3（21.9-26.5）%，体重指数（BMI）为 25.1（21.9-27.4）kg.m，腰围与身高比为 0.48（0.45-0.54）。饮食分析显示高可自由支配食物摄入量。心脏代谢健康风险的生物标志物均在正常范围内。HRQoL 为 86.2/100 分，用于身体健康，85.1/100 分，用于心理健康。V̇O 为 47.0（43.0-54.6）mL.kg.min。佩戴活动监测器的 10 名参与者每天完成 11,235（8334-15,380）步，每天进行 50（12-98）分钟/每周 350（84-686）分钟的中等到剧烈的体力活动。轮班工作对轮班工作的体力活动量影响最大。对于包括在这项研究中的 ICFPs，HRQoL、心脏代谢和体力活动结果代表着良好的健康状况。尽管轮班工作会影响体力活动量，但 ICFPs 即使在轮班时也超过了最低建议值。尽管在 EMS 领域有很长的职业生涯，但 ICFPs 表现出出色的健康状况，这可能是由于高体力活动水平和健康的 BMI。这些信息可能有助于指导更广泛的 EMS 劳动力的健康干预措施。
