A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, a peer-reviewed open-access journal, reveals that work-related stress resulting from job strain and an imbalance between effort and rewards could significantly increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib). AFib, the most common type of arrhythmia, poses severe risks, including stroke, heart failure, and other cardiovascular complications. Projections indicate that over 12 million Americans will be affected by AFib by 2030, according to statistics from the American Heart Association.

The groundbreaking research, led by Xavier Trudel, PhD, an occupational and cardiovascular epidemiologist and associate professor at Laval University in Quebec, examines the impact of job strain and effort-reward imbalance on the incidence of atrial fibrillation. Job strain refers to high-demand work environments where employees face heavy workloads and tight deadlines with little control over their work or decision-making processes. Effort-reward imbalance occurs when rewards such as salary, recognition, or job security are perceived as inadequate relative to the effort expended.

Dr. Trudel’s study involved nearly 6,000 white-collar workers in Canada, with a follow-up period of 18 years. The findings indicate a stark increase in AFib risk associated with these work-related stressors: employees experiencing high job strain had an 83% higher risk of developing AFib, those who perceived an effort-reward imbalance had a 44% greater risk, and individuals subjected to both stressors faced a 97% increased risk.

These findings have profound implications, suggesting that preventive strategies should include addressing psychosocial stressors in the workplace to foster healthier work environments that benefit both employees and their organizations. Dr. Trudel emphasizes the potential of workplace interventions to reduce such stressors, which could, in turn, lower the risk of AFib. His team has previously demonstrated the effectiveness of organizational interventions that reduced blood pressure by modifying work conditions, such as slowing down project timelines, implementing flexible work hours, and promoting open discussions between managers and employees.

However, the study’s focus solely on white-collar workers in managerial, professional, and office roles within Canada limits its findings’ generalizability. The specific work contexts and demographics may not represent the experiences of blue-collar workers or those in different geographic locations.

This research underscores the need to investigate how workplace stress affects heart health across employment and populations. Future studies could expand the scope to include a broader range of workers and work environments, enhancing our understanding of the link between occupational stress and cardiovascular disease and informing more effective public health policies and workplace practices.

More information: Edwige Tiwa Diffo et al, Psychosocial Stressors at Work and Atrial Fibrillation Incidence: An 18‐Year Prospective Study, Journal of the American Heart Association. DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.123.032414

Journal information: Journal of the American Heart Association Provided by American Heart Association