Work Stress Linked to 97% Increased Risk of Irregular Heart Rhythm

Work stress and pay inequality at work were associated with a greater likelihood of having an abnormal heart rhythm, finds a new study in Journal of the American Heart Association.

• Adults who work in white-collar jobs in Canada with high job stress and whose hard work is met with low rewards (such as minimum wage or notice) may face a 97% increased risk of being and an abnormal heart rhythm condition known as atrial fibrillation, or AFib or AF, compared to workers not exposed to occupational stress.
• Separately, high job stress alone was associated with an 83% higher risk of AFib, and effort-reward imbalance alone was associated with a 44% higher risk.
• Recognizing and dealing with this stressor at work may be an effective strategy to prevent atrial fibrillation in adults, the scientists said.

Work Stress and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation

Work-related stress caused by work pressure and the imbalance between effort expended and rewards earned may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation, according to new research published today ( August 14) Journal of the American Heart Associationan open-access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

Also known as AFib or AF, atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia – an abnormal heart rhythm. It can lead to stroke, heart failure, or other heart problems. It is estimated that more than 12 million people will have AFib in the United States by 2030, according to the American Heart Association’s 2024 heart attack and stroke statistics.

Psychosocial Concerns at Work

Previous studies have linked high job stress and pay inequality to an increased risk of heart disease. This study is the first to examine the negative effects of stress on atrial fibrillation, said the study’s senior author, Xavier Trudel, Ph.D., a cardiologist and associate professor of professor at Laval University in Quebec City, Quebec. Canada.

“Our study suggests that work-related stress may be an important factor in incorporating preventive measures,” Trudel said. “Recognizing and dealing with stress at work is necessary to foster effective health conditions that benefit individuals and the organizations in which they work.”

The Effect of Work Stress

Trudel and team studied the impact of job stress, which refers to a work environment in which employees face high job demands, such as heavy work and deadlines, and low control over their work without have a say in how decisions are made and how they are made. their jobs.

Another factor that was examined in the study was income inequality. This happens when employees invest a lot of effort in their work but perceive the rewards they receive – such as salary, recognition or job security – to be inadequate or not commensurate with their performance.

Key Findings in Education

Researchers reviewed medical records for nearly 6,000 adults working in white-collar jobs in Canada, with 18 years of follow-up data. The research found that:

• Workers who reported experiencing high levels of work stress had an 83% greater risk of developing AFib compared to workers who were not affected by stress.
• Those who perceived an imbalance in the reward for effort had a 44% greater risk, compared to workers who did not report this imbalance.
• Combined perceptions of high workload and effort-reward imbalance are associated with a 97% increased risk of AFib.

Investigating Labor Costs

“The effectiveness of occupational interventions to reduce psychological stress that may also reduce the risk of AFib should be investigated in future research efforts,” Trudel said. “Our research group first implemented an organizational intervention aimed at reducing stress at work, which was shown to effectively reduce blood pressure levels. Examples of organizational changes implemented during interventions include delaying the implementation of a major project; implementing flexible working hours; and holding meetings between managers and employees to discuss day-to-day problems.”

Disadvantages of Education and Planning

Weaknesses of the study include that all participants were white-collar workers including managers, professional workers and office workers in Canada which means that the results may not apply to other types of workers or to workers in other countries the rest.

Academic information, background, and design:

• The researchers collected data through the Prospective Quebec Study (PROQ) of Work and Health, which began in the Quebec region in 1991-1993 and recruited white-collar workers from 19 public and private organizations. the community.
• A total of 5,926 employees (49% male, 51% female) were included in this analysis. Their average age was 45 at the start of the study (1999-2001) and 65 at the end of follow-up (Dec. 2018). The majority of study participants were white adults.
• Job stress was assessed from a self-administered questionnaire.
• The analysis identified 186 cases of AFib, and among that group, 19% of people with AFib reported high job stress; 25% said they were aware of income inequality; and 10% reported having both depressions at the same time.
• More than a third of the participants had been diagnosed with a heart attack or stroke before their AFib episode.
• The study measured work-related stress with self-administered questions about work stress and income inequality, controlling for a wide range of socioeconomic characteristics (sex and education). , health risks (diabetes and high blood pressure), and lifestyle. reasons (smoking and alcohol).

Reference: “Psychosocial Stressors at Work and Atrial Fibrillation Incidence: An 18-Year Prospective Study” by Edwige Tiwa Diffo, Mathilde Lavigne-Robichaud, Alain Milot, Chantal Brisson, Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet, Michel Vézina, Denis Xadelt and 14 Talbo August 2024, Journal of the American Heart Association.
DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.123.032414