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Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association highlights a concerning link between work-related stress and compromised cardiovascular health among U.S. adults. In an analysis of data from a diverse, multi-ethnic sample, researchers found that individuals reporting work-related stress were more likely to have poorer cardiovascular health scores compared to those without such stress.
The study analyzed data collected from 3,579 men and women aged 45–84 years between 2000 and 2002 as part of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. All participants were free of cardiovascular disease at the time of enrollment, allowing investigators to focus on how lifestyle factors and stress might contribute to cardiovascular health over time.
Researchers evaluated cardiovascular health using a scoring system based on seven health metrics: smoking, physical activity, body mass index, diet, total cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose. Each factor was scored on a scale of 0 to 2 points, with higher scores indicating better health. Possible cardiovascular health scores ranged from 0 to 14.
Participants reported their work-related stress levels through a questionnaire, with approximately 20% indicating they experienced significant stress at work. After adjusting for various demographic and health-related factors, researchers found that participants with work-related stress had 25% and 27% lower odds of achieving average (9–10 points) and optimal (11–14 points) cardiovascular health scores, respectively, than those who did not report work-related stress.
Dr. Oluseye Ogunmoroti, MD, MPH, from Emory University, the study’s lead author, emphasized the importance of addressing work-related stress as a public health concern. “To address the public health issue of work-related stress and its detrimental effects on cardiovascular health, future research should prioritize the use of longitudinal studies to identify the mechanisms underlying this association,” Dr. Ogunmoroti stated. Co-author Dr. Erin Michos, MD, MHS, from Johns Hopkins University, echoed the call for future research, noting the importance of workplace interventions: “Conducting thorough workplace intervention studies is essential for the development and implementation of effective stress management strategies that can enhance employee well-being and improve cardiovascular health.”
The findings underscore the need for organizations and policymakers to consider the cardiovascular implications of work-related stress. This research opens the door to more comprehensive studies on how managing workplace stress could help reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular disease.
