Job stress and cardiovascular risk

Abstract

I examined if the job stress increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases in 466 employee of a private university. The cardiovascular risk points were calculated using a formula based on Hisayama study data or a formula based on Framingham study data. Stress check assessing job stress was performed using a questionnaire recommended by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. As for the stress reaction, those having a point 17 or lower were regarded as higher stress subjects, while cumulative points of stress factor and support equal to 26 or less were also regarded as higher stress subjects. I compared the risk points between the higher and lower stress subjects according to sex- and age-groups. In any group analyzed, neither risk points based on Hisayama study nor Framingham study were significantly different between the higher and lower stress subjects. Job stress assessed by the stress check may not be a predictive factor of the cardiovascular risk. The health management of the employee in a work-site, educational activity for lifestyle modification to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and measures to reduce the job stress should be independently pushed forward.