New research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has drawn a concerning link between work-related stress and poor cardiovascular health (CVH) in a multiethnic cohort of adults initially free from cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study underscores the urgent need for workplace wellness strategies to mitigate the impact of stress on heart health.
The American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 metrics, updated to Life’s Essential 8 in 2022 with the inclusion of sleep, serve as a framework for assessing CVH. High levels of psychosocial stress, particularly from work, are known to negatively affect CVH and increase the risk of adverse CVD outcomes. The study aimed to further explore this relationship across diverse populations.
Data for the analysis were drawn from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), comprising 6,814 participants aged 45 to 84, free from clinical CVD or heart failure at baseline. The cohort was diverse, with approximately 38% White, 28% Black, 22% Hispanic, and 12% Chinese American individuals. Work-related stress was assessed via self-administered questionnaires, and CVH was evaluated using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 metrics.
The study involved 3,579 participants, 48% of whom were women, with a mean age of 57 years. Those reporting work-related stress were younger and more likely to be women. White participants showed a higher prevalence of work-related stress compared to other racial and ethnic groups. The study revealed significant associations between work-related stress and lower odds of achieving average and optimal CVH scores.
Participants experiencing work-related stress were less likely to report ideal levels of physical activity, and trends were observed across other health behaviors, although not all were statistically significant. Sustained work-related stress for six months or more was associated with a further decline in CVH, highlighting the long-term impact of chronic stress on cardiovascular outcomes.
Conclusion
The study concludes that in a multiethnic cohort of adults without CVD, those with work-related stress showed lower odds of favorable CVH scores and fewer ideal CVH metrics, particularly in physical activity. This association was consistent across different demographic groups, suggesting that the negative impact of work-related stress on CVH may be widespread.
Biological mechanisms, such as elevated cortisol and epinephrine due to stress, may contribute to inflammation and poor CVH. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing work-related stress as a modifiable risk factor for CVD and the need for targeted workplace interventions to improve CVH.
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