LAUSR

OBJECTIVE To determine the association between cardiovascular health and musculoskeletal health in firefighters. METHODS This cross-sectional study involved 309 full-time firefighters aged 20 to 65 years. Cardiovascular health encompassed cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, risk scores, cardiovascular health metrics, and heart rate variability. Musculoskeletal health was assessed using two validated questionnaires. RESULTS Increasing age (p = 0.004), body mass index (p < 0.001), body fat percentage (p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.003), total cholesterol (TC) (p = 0.006) and Framingham risk score (p = 0.011) increased the risk of reporting musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs). Obesity (p = 0.018), hypertension (p = 0.034), and dyslipidaemia (p = 0.005) increased the risk of reporting MSIs. Musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) was associated with TC (p = 0.0.34) and low-density lipoprotein (p = 0.014). CONCLUSION Adverse CVD risk profile was associated with MSIs and MSD in firefighters. Firefighters should maintain an ideal cardiovascular health profile, especially as they age.