New research suggests firefighters could have an elevated risk of sleep disorders.
Sleep disorders are strongly linked to both motor vehicle crashes and heart attack, which are the two top causes of death for firefighters, Brigham and Women's Hospital reported.
To make their findings the researchers looked at the prevalence of sleep disorders and related adverse health and safety outcomes in 7,000 firefighters.
"Our findings demonstrate the impact of common sleep disorders on firefighter health and safety, and their connection to the two leading causes of death among firefighters," said Laura K. Barger, associate physiologist in BWH's Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, "Unfortunately, more than 80 percent of firefighters who screened positive for a common sleep disorder were undiagnosed and untreated."
The participants were asked to report factors and events such as: "health status, previous diagnoses of sleep and other medical disorders, the likelihood of falling asleep while driving, motor vehicle crashes, near crashes, and injuries."
The researchers determined a total 37.2 percent of firefighters had sleep disorders such as "sleep apnea, insomnia, shift work disorder and restless leg syndrome." They found firefighters with sleep disorders were more likely to report motor vehicle crashes caused by the individual falling asleep while driving. Firefighters with sleep disorders also had a higher prevalence of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression and anxiety.
"Occupational sleep disorder screening programs can identify individuals who are vulnerable to adverse safety and health consequences, including those that are leading causes of death in firefighters," said Charles Czeisler, chief, BWH Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders. "This study provides the rationale for further research evaluating the effectiveness of occupational sleep disorders management programs on disease risk, mental health and safety outcomes."
The findings were published Nov. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
