Overweight and bad sleep quality among firefighters in Panama: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Malnutrition is a serious public health problem in Panama. In firefighters, it triggers cardiovascular problems that cause disability and premature death. To analyze nutritional status, sleep, physical activity, and factors associated with malnutrition in Panamanian firefighters. An observational analytical study of a cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to August 2022. Sociodemographic data, personal pathological history, alcohol consumption, physical activity, work exhaustion, and anthropometry (weight, height, waist circumference, and waist-height ratio) were obtained. Overweight was defined when the body mass index was >24.9 kg/m2; obesity ≥30 kg/m2; abdominal obesity with waist circumference ≥88 cm in women and ≥102 cm in men; and, cardiovascular risk when the waist-height ratio was ≥0.5. Multivariate modeling was performed using logistic regression. 146 participants (87.7% male) with an average age of 36.6±9.7 years were evaluated. 81.5% were overweight, of which, 41.8% were obese. 50% had abdominal obesity and 84.3% had a high cardiovascular risk determined by the waist-height ratio. 45.2% had a high risk or addiction to alcoholism. Being older was associated with obesity (OR=1.05; 95%CI=1.01-1.10), with overweight (OR=1.15; 95%CI=1.07-1.24); and with cardiovascular risk (OR=1.18; 95%CI=1.09-1.29). Having an NCD was associated with obesity (OR=4.31; 95%CI=1.45-12.8). Female sex (OR=7.35; 95%CI=1.82-29.71) and years of service (OR=2.10; 95%CI=1.26-3.52) were associated with abdominal obesity. High prevalence of excess malnutrition, stress, alcohol consumption, and poor sleep quality among Panamanian firefighters.