NCT01805063

Effect of Fire Suppression and Emergency Duties on Vascular Function

Completed Last updated 1 May 2024

What this trial tests

trial testing Forearm Vascular Study in Vascular Function in 30 participants. Completed in 31 December 2016.

Timeline

9 January 2012

Primary endpoint
31 December 2016

31 December 2016

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	University of Edinburgh
Status	Completed
Study type	OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment	30
Start date	9 January 2012
Primary completion	31 December 2016
Estimated completion	31 December 2016
Sites	1 location across United Kingdom

Drugs / interventions tested

• Forearm Vascular Study
• Badimon Chamber

Conditions studied

• Vascular Function — all drugs for Vascular Function →
• Atherothrombosis — all drugs for Atherothrombosis →

Sponsor

University of Edinburgh

Who can join

Adults 18 to 60, any sex, with Vascular Function or Atherothrombosis. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Firefighters are at increased risk of death from heart attacks when compared to other emergencyy service professionals whose jobs involve similar components such as emergency call-outs and shift work. In the largest analysis of cause of death amongst on-duty firefighters, firefighter deaths were classified according to the duty performed during the onset of symptoms or immediately prior to any sudden death. The majority of deaths due to a cardiovascular cause (i.e. heart attack) occurred during fire suppression whilst this activity represented a relatively small amount of a firefighters professional time. There was also a risk of death associated with other duties such as emergency non-fire response and physical exertion.

The investigators hypothesize that participation in active fire-fighting duties impairs blood vessel function and increases blood clot formation when compared with non-fire-fighting activities. In this study, healthy career firefighters will be assessed after three periods of duty: fire-suppression, emergency response without fire suppression and following a sedentary shift. The investigators will take blood samples to measure platelet activity (platelets are the particles in blood that help blood clot) and will examine how blood clots outside of the body. The investigators will then perform studies placing small needles in the arm to assess blood vessel function following these duties. By undertaking this comprehensive assessment of blood, blood vessel and heart function the investigators hope to understand the mechanisms whereby the risk of a heart attack, fatal or otherwise, is posed throughout these distinct duties that firefighters undertake on a daily basis.

Publications & conference data

No peer-reviewed publications indexed yet for this trial. Completed trials usually publish results within 12-18 months.