Cost-effectiveness of multidetector computed tomography compared with myocardial perfusion imaging as gatekeeper to invasive coronary angiography in asymptomatic firefighters with positive treadmill tests.

Background: In a prospective evaluation of 3950 Los Angeles County firefighters who underwent wellness/fitness examinations, 495 firefighters had abnormal treadmill tests and were referred for cardiology evaluation. Cost of the traditional myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) followed by invasive coronary angiography (ICA) was compared with a method incorporating 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) with coronary calcium score (CCS) followed by computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and ICA as indicated.

Objective: We compared the costs of 2 methods of predicting coronary artery disease (CAD) by ICA among asymptomatic patients with positive treadmill tests.

Energy costs of simulated stair climbing as a job-related task in fire fighting.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the energy requirement of simulated stair climbing. Metabolic costs of climbing stairs in getting to the scene of a fire can be very demanding for fire personnel. Heart rate and oxygen consumption were measured on 17 fire fighters during each of three conditions: (1) stair climbing without fire-fighting uniform or equipment, (2) stair climbing with fire-fighting uniform and equipment, and (3) pedaling a bicycle ergometer in a graded maximal exercise test.

Program for increasing health and physical fitness of fire fighters.

In 1970 the Los Angeles County Occupational Health Service began a program to monitor the health status and to increase the physical fitness of its 1,800 fire fighters. By 1973 physical examinations including resting ECG and blood laboratory studies had been completed for all fire fighters. In addition, the oldest 998 fire fighters were tested for physical work capacity (PWC), job-related strength performance, and spine flexibility.