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Association of Endogenous Testosterone with Physical Fitness Measures during Firefighter Occupational Health Evaluations

Author

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  • Luiz Guilherme Grossi Porto

    (Study Group on Exercise and Physical Activity Physiology and Epidemiology (GEAFS), Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Faculty of Physical Education, University of Brasilia—UnB, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Edgard M. K. V. K. Soares

    (Study Group on Exercise and Physical Activity Physiology and Epidemiology (GEAFS), Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Faculty of Physical Education, University of Brasilia—UnB, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
    Department of Health and Human Physiological Sciences, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Sushant M. Ranadive

    (Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA)

  • Adriana Lofrano-Porto

    (Adrenal and Gonadal Diseases Clinic, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism of the University Hospital, University of Brasilia—UnB, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil)

  • Denise L. Smith

    (Department of Health and Human Physiological Sciences, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, USA)

Abstract

Firefighting is a physically demanding profession associated with unacceptably high on-duty cardiovascular mortality. Low endogenous total testosterone (TT) is an emerging cardiometabolic (CM) risk factor in men, but limited data exists on its interactions with physical fitness (PF). Data from occupational health and fitness assessments of 301 male career firefighters (FFs) were analyzed. TT was categorized as low (<264 ng/dL), borderline (264–399 ng/dL), and reference (400–916 ng/dL). PF tests included cardiorespiratory fitness (submaximal treadmill), body fat percentage (BF%), push-ups, plank, and handgrip strength assessments. In the crude analyses, FFs in the low TT group had worse muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness measures compared to the referent group. However, after adjusting for age and BF%, none of the PF differences remained statistically significant. Similarly, the odds of less-fit FFs (PF performance below median values) having low TT were higher compared to the fitter ones only before adjusting for age and BF%. Therefore, in the final adjusted model, there was no significant association between TT and PF. Our data suggest that age and body fat confound the association between PF and TT. Low TT and poor PF are important components of FFs’ CM risk profile, and there is potential benefit to considering TT screening as part of a comprehensive occupational health program that manages performing medical evaluations and provides education and preventative programming.

Suggested Citation

  • Luiz Guilherme Grossi Porto & Edgard M. K. V. K. Soares & Sushant M. Ranadive & Adriana Lofrano-Porto & Denise L. Smith, 2024. "Association of Endogenous Testosterone with Physical Fitness Measures during Firefighter Occupational Health Evaluations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:3:p:274-:d:1347238
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Saeed U. Khaja & Kevin C. Mathias & Emilie D. Bode & Donald F. Stewart & Kepra Jack & Steven M. Moffatt & Denise L. Smith, 2021. "Hypertension in the United States Fire Service," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-10, May.
    2. Annmarie Chizewski & Allyson Box & Richard Kesler & Steven J. Petruzzello, 2021. "Fitness Fights Fires: Exploring the Relationship between Physical Fitness and Firefighter Ability," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-13, November.
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