Ischemic Heart Disease and Acute Myocardial Infarction Mortality Among Police Officers

Abstract

The relationship between the occupation of police officer and ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality was examined through case-control studies using 1968/78 death certificate records from Rhode Island and Utah. IHD was divided into two subcategories--acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and other IHD. In both states, the odds ratio (OR) for AMI was significantly elevated (Rhode Island, OR = 1.3; Utah, OR = 1.8), and was higher than the OR for other IHD (Rhode Island, OR = 1.1; Utah, OR = 1.4). The odds ratio for AMI was higher in the less than 65 yr age group (Rhode Island, OR = 2.1; Utah, OR = 2.1) than in the greater than or equal to 65 yr age group (Rhode Island, OR = 0.9; Utah, OR = 1.6). These results suggest that the elevated risk for IHD among police officers observed in this and other studies is primarily due to an elevated risk for AMI. The pattern of diminishing risk with age suggests a risk factor, possibly stress, the effect of which diminishes when exposure ceases at retirement.