Does work stress increase the risk for cardiovascular disease?

By Caren Mckinney, | Health | 0 Comments

Researchers from Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Holland, report the results of a study of working men which found that the detrimental effects of work stress were partly mediated by increased heart rate in reaction to stress, an increase in systolic blood pressure (BP) and lower vagal tone.

109 male white-collar workers, average age 47 years, were monitored on two workdays and one non workday for ambulatory BP, heart rate and heart rate variability. Vagal tone was assessed as a possible determinant of work stress events. Chronic work stress was defined according to Siegrist’s model as high imbalance and high over-commitment.

The study showed that high imbalance on all three days was associated with:

• A higher heart rate during work and directly after
• A higher systolic BP during work and leisure time
• A lower 24-hour vagal tone

Logistic regression analysis revealed that heart rate and vagal tone were independently associated with incident mild hypertension, and values during sleep were more predictive than values during work.