What if the police officer in the above scenario, upon being hired into the force, had access to a comprehensive annual wellness program focused on prevention and early detection strategies? Would specialized care have mitigated occupational stressors, lowering the risk of cardiac episodes and increasing the likelihood of a safe return home?

In 2007, Stefanos Kales published his landmark study in The New England Journal of Medicine, which demonstrates a significantly higher risk of on-duty cardiac death among police officers and firefighters—22 percent and 44 percent, respectively—compared to the general population (15 percent).¹ While Kales’ findings raised awareness of the increased health risks experienced by first responders, they also raised additional questions. For instance, are higher cardiac death rates due to an increased predisposition for coronary disease among police officers and firefighters, or are they the result of the unique stressors experienced by first responders during their shifts in the line of duty? While the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the risk of cardiac death among active-duty firefighters has been well documented, less attention has been given to the corresponding risk among police officers.