The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among law enforcement officers (LEOs) is slightly higher than the general population. Furthermore, the prevalence of CVD doubles among LEOs following retirement compared to the general population. The measure of arterial stiffness serves as an independent risk factor that has prognostic value for future incidence of CVD. However, there is limited research on lifestyle, occupational, and demographic factors that may be associated with increased arterial stiffness in LEOs. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to compare the level of arterial stiffness among LEOs versus the general population and to identify lifestyle, occupational, and demographic predictors of arterial stiffness in LEOs. Seventy male career LEOs between the ages of 24 to 54 years from Kentucky and southwest Ohio participated in this study. LEOs completed a variety of questionnaires related to health/occupational histories, occupational stress, and diet. LEOs’ body composition (bioelectrical impedance), central and brachial blood pressures, and physical activity (triaxial accelerometers) were assessed. The dependent variable of arterial stiffness was measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). A variety of statistical techniques including 1 sample t-tests, Pearson product moment correlations, and multiple linear regression were utilized in study analyses, with a level of significance set at p < 0.05. Compared to the general population cfPWV was significantly lower among LEO’s under 30 years of age (mean difference = -0.6 m·s-1), but significantly higher among LEOs 50-55 years of age (mean difference = 1.1 m·s-1). Utilizing stepwise multiple linear regression, age, relative body fat, and diastolic blood pressure explained the most variance in LEO’s cfPWV (adj. R2 = 0.56, p < 0.001). The primary findings of this investigation demonstrate that arterial stiffness may progress more rapidly in LEOs compared to the general population and that LEOs should focus on maintaining appropriate levels of relative body fat and blood pressure to regulate arterial stiffness and risk of CVD.

Although blood viscosity is an important component in determining vascular function, it is often assumed constant. Emerging evidence linking individual differences in viscosity to cardiovascular disease casts doubt on this assumption. The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of whole blood viscosity to key measures of vascular function. To address this aim as comprehensively as possible, first, whole blood viscosity was compared with traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Then flow-mediated dilation (FMD), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), and carotid artery compliance were calculated either with or without blood viscosity taken into account. Lastly, we tested whether the removal of blood viscosity could influence well-established associations between age and vascular function. Blood viscosity and vascular function were measured in 97 adults ranging in age from 18-63 years. No significant differences were observed between whole blood viscosity and traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Whole blood viscosity was not significantly correlated with FMD, cfPWV, and carotid compliance. As expected, age was positively correlated with cfPWV (r=0.65, p<0.001) and negatively correlated with FMD (r=-0.21, p<0.05) and carotid compliance (r=-0.45, p<0.01). Even after controlling for viscosity, these relationships remained statistically significant (cfPWV r=0.65, p<0.001; FMD r=-0.24, p<0.05; carotid compliance r=-0.44, p<0.05). These results indicate that whole blood viscosity does not appear to significantly impact measures of vascular function and that the rationale for including whole blood viscosity in the calculation of vascular function remains weak. / text

To assess the relationships of body mass index (BMI) on arterial stiffness at rest and post-maximal treadmill graded exercise testing (GXT). Forty-four apparently healthy, young adult males (22.1 ± 0.48 years) were recruited and divided into either a healthy weight (H, ≤24.9 kg/m2), overweight (OV, 24.9-29.9 kg/m2) or obese (OB, ≥29.9 kg/m2) group based on BMI. All subjects underwent arterial stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, cfPWV), blood pressure (BP), pulse pressure (PP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis, BIA) measurements at rest. Following the GXT, measures of arterial stiffness (cfPWV) and BP were acquired. Resting measures of cfPWV, BMI, systolic BP, diastolic BP, MAP, and PP were significantly (p <0.05) greater in OV and OB compared with H. Compared with OV, OB had a greater BMI. Relative peak oxygen consumption (VP2peak) was greater in H compared with OV and OB (p<0.05). systolic BP was positively associated, whereas VO2peak was inversely related to cfPWV (p<0.05). No significant inter-group interactions were observed with cfPWV after the GXT. However, interactions were observed for SBP, DBP and PP (p<0.05). In young men with varying BMI, SBP and VO2peak were associated with resting cfPWV. However, similar cardiovascular responses were observed between groups after a maximal GXT.