H. Robert Superko，医学博士，地标首席调查员Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)--sponsored study of firefighters aged 40 and over conducted at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta, released preliminary findings in the world’s first study of first responders at risk of suffering sudden death or other significant cardiac events. Firefighters are known to have a three hundred percent increased risk for cardiac disease as compared to other segments of the population.
Superko博士说：“初步发现表明，三分之一的消防员患有与传统危险因素无关的心脏病，例如高胆固醇。”“这些结果令人震惊，并指出工作职责和环境是我国第一响应者早期死亡的主要决定因素。”
Superko博士被公认为是脂质，胆固醇和高级代谢市场的领先专家及其对心脏病的贡献，他的团队对佐治亚州格温内特县的三百名消防员进行了全面，科学的复杂血液和成像测试。在消防局长史蒂夫·洛拉德（Steve Rolader）的一份情感报道之后，格温内特县的第一响应者被确认为研究，因为他的一名消防员因心脏骤停而突然死亡，他在与房屋大火作斗争时突然死亡。
“This wasn’t the first firefighter in my department to die but I wanted to do something to make it among the last,” says Chief Rolader. “This man was 53 years old, in great physical shape and he had no known symptoms of heart disease. We also had lost several newly-retired firefighters to sudden cardiac death. There had to be a way to stop it.”
研究志愿者接受了超过一百万个基因的综合遗传筛选，包括新鉴定的KIF6（他汀类药物反应性基因）和9P21（心肌梗死基因），晚期表型（血液）以及成像分析，饮食和饮食和运动综述，这是一年一年的研究。结果和解释已向小组提出，然后进行个人咨询。预计今年将有完整的统计和全面遗传学结果。
According to Dr. Superko, stress and psychological pressures related to the job, as well as diet, exercise issues and inherent personality, interacting with a genetic predisposition to heart disease, probably have tremendous impact on the risk of heart attack in these first responders.
“Imagine being awakened from a dead sleep by a loud, shrieking siren several times during the night, responding through the rush of adrenaline, carrying a hundred pounds of equipment on your back, and meeting people at the very worst possible moments in their lives every day and you can begin to understand the toll it takes on the first responders,” says Superko. “And, consider the emotional and psychological stress they encounter each day as they respond to society’s most brutal moments from murders to car wrecks and death. Finally, those who serve as first responders have a mind-set and a desire to help people. They certainly bring a competitive nature to the job but also a profound desire to help and to do the best for others. All these elements create an environment that puts them at an increased risk for cardiac disease.”
为了回应越来越多的饮食和运动问题的认识，格温内特消防局在当地的消防队中制定了锻炼计划，现在该县重新获得了健身俱乐部会员资格。该部门还通过一对一的机会以及“在车站房屋中学习午餐和学习”计划，对消防员进行适当的饮食和营养教育。而且，多年来，格温内特电台的传统消防屋警报已被柔和的警报和甚至发声的提示所取代，以唤醒睡觉的急救人员。
As a result of the study, Saint Joseph’s Hospital and Dr. Superko’s team implemented a two month screening program for all Atlanta first responders (firefighters, Police and EMS) regardless of age in order to provide them with some basic and advanced diagnostic tests at prices affordable to firefighters.. Several physicians are providing their services free of charge.
“There are tremendous costs associated with early deaths of our first responders in every community as we lose men and women in their 30s, 40s and 50s who are our first line of defense but who don’t live to perform their jobs for very long,” says Chief Rolader. “With the results of this study, we can implement programs across the country that will save lives.”
Final results are expected to be submitted for presentation consideration at the annual American Heart Association meeting.
Saint Joseph’s, recognized as one of the 50 top hospitals in the country, is the regions premier provider of cardiac and vascular services and is Atlanta’s oldest hospital. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1880, today Saint Joseph’s is a 410-bed, acute-care hospital recognized as one of the leading specialty-referral hospitals in the Southeast.
As a leader in cardiac, neurologic, vascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, orthopaedic and cancer care, among others, Saint Joseph’s offers its patients the latest procedures and treatments by providing its medical staff of more than 750 physicians with research services and the most advanced technology available.
In addition to serving the metro-Atlanta area, patients come from all over Georgia, nearby states and internationally because of Saint Joseph’s specialized services, excellent reputation and unique patient experience.
Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, Saint Joseph’s is a member of Catholic Health East. For more information, visit the website atwww.saintjosephsatlanta.org.
