Age, job characteristics and coronary health
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Accepted Version
Date
2012-08-27
Authors
McCarthy, Vera J. C.
Perry, Ivan J.
Greiner, Birgit A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Published Version
Abstract
Background: Workplace demographics are changing in many European countries with a higher proportion of older workers in employment. Research has shown that there is an association between job strain and cardiovascular disease, but this relationship is unclear for the older worker. Aims: To investigate the association between job strain and a coronary event comparing younger and older male workers. Methods: Cases with a first-time coronary event were recruited from four coronary/intensive care units (1999-2001). Matched controls were recruited from the case's general practitioner surgery. Physical measurements were taken and self-administered questionnaires completed with questions on job characteristics, job demands and control. Unconditional logistic regression was carried out adjusting for classical cardiovascular risk factors. Results: There were 227 cases and 277 matched controls. Age stratified analyses showed a clear difference between younger (= 50 years) workers with regard to the exposure of job strain (job demands and control) and the association between these factors and cardiovascular disease. Older workers who had a coronary event were four times as likely to have high job strain [OR = 4.09 (1.29-13.02)] and more likely to report low job control [ OR = 0.83 (0.72-0.95)]. Conclusions: Job control emerged as a potential protective factor for heart disease and this evidence was stronger in the older male worker. Nevertheless, they were significantly more likely to have job strain. These results suggest that older workers may be more susceptible to job strain.
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Keywords
Angina , Cardiovascular disease , Case-control study , Job control , Job demands , Job strain , Myocardial infarct , Occupational health , Older workers , Younger workers , Heart disease , Myocardial infarction , Decision latitude , Work stress , Cardiovascular disease , Psychosocial factors , Prospective cohort , Whitehall II , Strain , Risk
Citation
McCarthy, V. J. C., Perry, I. J. and Greiner, B.A. (2012) 'Age, job characteristics and coronary health', Occupational Medicine, 62, pp. 613-619. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqs139
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Copyright
© 2012, the Authors. This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Occupational Medicine following peer review. The version of record (McCarthy, V. J. C., Perry, I. J. and Greiner, B.A. (2012) 'Age, job characteristics and coronary health', Occupational Medicine, 62, pp. 613-619) is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqs139