Working longer than necessary is associated to the increased risk of CVD

Emobileclinic Researchers’ corner

Working longer than necessary is associated to the increased risk of CVD in a recent study. The negative effect is noticed on workers who spend 46 hours every week or more on their jobs for 10 years. This was however not noticed with part time workers ‘as no association was seen between hours worked and CVD’ among part- time workers. The researchers observed dose and overdose of working hours in relationship with ‘incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among the workers from U.S.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels which affects more than one in three adults and is the leading cause of death among other hearts conditions. Mortality in this area is projected to increase from now till 2030 by 40% and thus, a research work like this should be taken seriously. Moreover, employers should note that making workers work over hours is not in the interest of the workers and the organization. ‘Recent meta-analyses examining CVD or the more limited diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CHD) have demonstrated an association with long work hours. Changes in the activity of the autonomic, sympathetic, and/ or parasympathetic nervous systems have been suggested as potential mechanisms through which working long hours influences cardiovascular health, as has increased blood pressure’, noted the lead author, an assistant professor at the University of Texas School of Public Health.

According to the lead author who studied 1,926 workers who had worked for minimum of 10 years ‘from Panel Study of income Dynamics’ indicated that most substantial risk was among those working 46 hours per week or greater on the average of at least 10 years. However, the result was not the same with the part-time workers. ‘’ We observed a difference in the risk profiles of part-time and full-time workers, as no association was seen between hours worked and CVD in part-time workers.’’ Said Dr. Conway Sadie.

Among the population study, the incidence of CVD was reportedly high as 822 workers (42.7%) reported physician diagnosed of incidence of CVD. The risk of CVD was said to increase also by 1% when parameters like sex, age, race/ethnicity and income were added. The risk of CVD equally jumps when there was over dose of more hours. For instance 45 hours per week over 10 years had 16% risk of CVD while 50 to 60 hours had the risk jack up to 35% and further over dose increases the risk more.

Let me end with his quote because he knows what staff could do with an information like this. “I would never tell a person ‘don’t work long hours’ because of this risk, but it’s something that shouldn’t be ignored from a public health standpoint,” said Dr.Sadie.

Source

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine