Republished: Is hypertension associated with job strain? A meta-analysis of observational studies

Abstract

Job strain results from a combination of high workload and few decision-making opportunities in the workplace. There is inconsistent evidence regarding the association between job strain and hypertension, and methodological shortcomings preclude firm conclusions. Thus, a meta-analysis of observational studies on hypertension among occupational groups was conducted to determine whether job strain was associated with hypertension. In January 2012, we carried out a comprehensive, topic-specific electronic literature search of the Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsychoINFO databases complemented by individual help from non-communicable disease experts. Experimental/interventional studies and studies on personality disorders were excluded. Nine of 894 identified studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled OR of the nine studies was 1.3 (95% CI 1.14 to 1.48; p<0.001), of case-control studies 3.17 (95% CI 1.79 to 5.60; p<0.001) and of cohort studies 1.24 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.41; p<0.001), all of which indicated statistically significant positive associations between job strain and hypertension. In a subgroup analysis, cohort studies of good methodological quality showed significant associations between job strain and hypertension, while those of poor methodological quality showed no association or subgroup differences. We conclude that despite methodological differences, case-control and cohort studies of good methodological quality showed positive associations between hypertension and job strain.

Working hours and health in nurses of public hospitals according to gender

“…In addition, the two samples were also similar regarding some bivariate analyses, as in both the self-rated health was associated with psychosocial stress, assessed using two independent scales, thinking about leaving the profession, lack of physical activity, and body mass index. In this case, the associations observed are plausible from the abundant literature on the relationships between health and the aforementioned variables (psychosocial environment at work, physical activity, and obesity) both between men and women 1 . A previous study with nurses from various countries has observed the relationship between the thought of leaving the profession and the health of workers 12 .…”

Perceived Workplace Stress Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Prostate Cancer before Age 65

“…Stress at work has been mostly assessed in the past using the high demand-low control model developed by Karasek ( 15 ). Although it has been shown to be efficient in demonstrating a relation between chronic stress and cardiovascular ( 1 , 2 ) or mental illness ( 3 ), this model might not capture cancer determinants of work-related stress. Our measure of workplace stress did not make assumptions about the stressors that could have an impact on cancer development.…”

“…Chronic psychological stress has been found to have a deleterious impact on health, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease ( 1 ), hypertension ( 2 ), mental illness ( 3 ), and diabetes ( 4 ). Its role in cancer etiology is of growing interest and was earmarked as a high-priority exposure for review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer ( 5 ).…”

Cerebral and neural regulation of cardiovascular activity during mental stress

“…Many evidences have indicated that mental stressors were associated with elevated incidences of coronary heart disease, stroke and hypertension [1, 2]. Besides, the roles of mental stress in arrhythmogenesis and sudden cardiac death are no longer confined to the realms of anecdote [3].…”