Job stress and susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases: A case-control study

Job stress is one of the main characteristics of modern life which is increasing and has been recognized as an important risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. The present study was conducted to determine the association between job stress at work environment and cardiovascular diseases.

A number of 300 persons including 150 cases and 150 controls were considered in the present study. The participants were diagnosed as patient or healthy persons, based on the cardiologist visits. Then, ERI and demographic questionnaires were completed by interview with subjects. After data collection, the data was interpreted, scored and analyzed using SPSS-16 (chi-square and independent sample T tests).

Mean age of subjects was 54.2±11.3 years. There was a significant difference between case and control groups in term of extrinsic effort and esteem reward (p=0.05). No significant difference was also observed between case and control groups in term of effort and reward imbalance (p=0.059). Mean fasting blood sugar and triglycerides in patients with effort-reward imbalance was higher than in patients with effort-reward balance (p=0.05).

Cardiovascular disease has a close association with risk factors including job stress. Health education and screening of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases are recommended to early diagnosis of such diseases.