Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress Study (BCOPS)

Title: Physiological Stress Biomarkers and Metabolic and Vascular Consequences in Police Officers
(referred as BCOPS study)

Principal Investigator: John Violanti, PhD

Funding Agency: NIOSH

Period: 09/10/03 - 10/31/09

Abstract: Policing is a psychologically stressful work environment filled with danger, high demands, ambiguity in work encounters, human misery, and exposure to death. Lack of meaningful research in policing is largely due to inadequate samples and restricted access of researchers to officers.

This proposed project is among one of the first structured scientific attempts to gather physiological data on a large sample of police officers. This study, in collaboration with NIOSH, will provide an opportunity to investigate relationships between work stress, lifestyle factors (smoking, diet, exercise), physiological stress biomarkers, and subclinical metabolic and vascular consequences in police officers. Cortisol patterns, brachial reactivity, IMT, orthostatic hypotension, body fat distribution, blood parameters, and bone density will be among the variables measured. This project has the potential to serve as a model for future epidemiological investigations in police work, as well as establishing a base for future prospective inquiries into stress and disease.