Cardiovascular disease risk factors and the perception of general health among male law enforcement officers: encouraging behavioral change

Sandra L Ramey

doi:10.1177/216507990305100504

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Cardiovascular disease risk factors and the perception of general health among male law enforcement officers: encouraging behavioral change

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Cardiovascular disease risk factors and the perception of general health among male law enforcement officers: encouraging behavioral change

Sandra L Ramey

AAOHN journal, Vol.51(5), pp.219-226

05/2003

DOI: 10.1177/216507990305100504

PMID: 12769168

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Abstract

The relationship among cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity, risk factors (including stress), and the perception of health among male law enforcement officers (LEOs) compared to men in the general population were examined in this study. Self reported prevalence of CVD and CVD risk factors among currently employed male LEOs from nine states (n = 2,818) were compared to those of other men in the same states (n = 9,650 for CVD risk factors, n = 3,147 for CVD prevalence). Perceived stress in LEOs was assessed to determine if it affected the relationship between CVD prevalence and CVD risk factors. Cross tabulated simple percentages showed CVD was less prevalent in the LEO group than among the general population. The best predictor variables for CVD were perceived stress, time in the profession, and hypertension. The LEO group had greater prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, overweight, and tobacco use than the general population. However, a greater percentage of LEOs perceived their health as "good to excellent" compared to men in the general population. Using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) it was determined that perceived stress was associated with CVD in the LEO group and three CVD risk factors (i.e., cholesterol, hypertension, physical activity) were significantly affected by perceived stress. Among susceptible officers, stress may contribute to CVD development as well as potentiate several CVD risk factors. However, an apparent lack of association exists between perception of general health and CVD risk in LEOs.

Health Behavior

Analysis of Variance

Attitude to Health

Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology

Cardiovascular Diseases - mortality

Cross-Sectional Studies

Data Collection

Humans

Male

Occupational Diseases - complications

Occupational Diseases - etiology

Police

Prevalence

Risk Factors

Stress, Physiological - complications

Stress, Physiological - etiology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Cardiovascular disease risk factors and the perception of general health among male law enforcement officers: encouraging behavioral change
Creators: Sandra L Ramey - University of Iowa, Nursing
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: AAOHN journal, Vol.51(5), pp.219-226
DOI: 10.1177/216507990305100504
PMID: 12769168
ISSN: 0891-0162
eISSN: 1938-2448
Language: English
Date published: 05/2003
Academic Unit: Nursing
Record Identifier: 9983557165902771

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