Hemostatic Responses to Multiple Bouts of Firefighting Activity: Female vs. Male Differences in a High Demand, High Performance Occupation

Denise L. Smith, Gavin P. Horn, Steven J. Petruzzello, Gregory G. Freund, Samuel I. Bloom, Bo Fernhall

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

While the fire service has long been a male-dominated occupation, women’s participation in this strenuous, high risk, high performance activity has increased in recent years. Firefighting induces significant cardiovascular strain, including hemostatic disruption; however, the effect of sex on hemostatic responses has not been investigated despite evidence that there are sex-related differences in hemostatic variables at rest and following exercise. Thus, we investigated hemostatic responses in age- and BMI-matched male and female firefighters who performed 3–4 evolutions of firefighting drills over a 3 h period. Venous blood samples were collected before and after the firefighting training drills and hemostatic variables were assessed. Firefighting significantly increased platelet count and factor VIII, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen, and t-PA activity, and decreased activated partial thromboplastin time and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) activity. Females had lower values for epinephrine-induced platelet closure time, antithrombin III, PAI-1 activity, and PAI-1 antigen. There were no interactions between sex and time for any variables assessed. In conclusion, multiple bouts of firefighting activity resulted in a procoagulatory state. Although there were sex differences for several hemostatic variables, male and female firefighters did not differ in their hemostatic response to multiple bouts of firefighting.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number2124
JournalInternational journal of environmental research and public health
Volume19
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2022

Keywords

  • Coagulation
  • Fibrinolysis
  • Gender
  • Hemostasis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pollution
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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