Work-related stress can double the risk of a potentially fatal irregular heartbeat, according to a new study. The study showed that work strain and a perceived lack of reward are associated with a significantly higher chance of suffering from atrial fibrillation.
A study that focused on Canadian office workers found that those who experienced high workloads and poor rewards – such as inadequate pay or recognition – had a 97% higher risk of developing an irregular heart condition known as AF or AFib. less stressed counterparts. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, also revealed that high workload alone was associated with an 83% greater risk of developing AF, while work-reward imbalance alone was associated with a 44% greater risk.
AF is the most common form of arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythm. It can lead to stroke, heart failure or other cardiovascular diseases.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), around 1.4 million people in the UK are estimated to have AF, while more than 12 million in the US are predicted to have it by 2030.
Atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition that can affect adults of all ages but mainly affects older men, has been linked to workplace stress in a groundbreaking study. Professor Xavier Trudel, lead author from Laval University in Quebec, highlighted the new findings: “Our study suggests that work-related stressors may be important factors to include in preventive strategies. Identifying and addressing psychosocial stressors at work is necessary to promote healthy work environments, which benefit both individuals and the organizations they work for.”
The study looked at the effects of work stress – a combination of high demands, such as excessive workload and tight deadlines, weak work management and work-reward imbalance, where the rewards from work, such as salary or recognition, do not match Prof Trudel’s team focused on these specific occupational stressors and their possible role in the development of AF, providing new insights into how our work can affect heart health.
A recent study examining the medical records of more than 5,900 Canadian white-collar workers over an 18-year period has revealed a link between workplace stress and atrial fibrillation (AF) – a common heart rhythm disorder. The work stress levels of the participants were self-reported using questionnaires starting at the average age of 45 and at the age of 65 by the end of the 2018 study period.
Of the 186 identified AF cases, 19% reported a heavy workload, while a quarter felt a work-reward imbalance and 10% experienced both types of stress simultaneously. More than a third had heart disease before the AF diagnosis.
The analysis highlighted a worrying trend: workers under high work pressure were found to be 83% more likely to develop AF compared to their stressed counterparts. Those who perceived a work-reward imbalance saw a 44 percent increase in risk, and those who experienced both forms of stress nearly doubled their risk, with a 97 percent increase in developing AF.
Professor Trudel commented on the findings, highlighting the potential benefits of workplace interventions aimed at reducing stress. “The effectiveness of workplace interventions in reducing psychosocial stressors, which may also reduce the risk of AF, should be investigated in future studies. Our research group has previously implemented an organizational intervention aimed at reducing psychosocial stressors at work, and it was shown to effectively lower blood pressure.”
He also stated: “Examples of organizational changes implemented in the intervention included slowing down the implementation of a large project to prevent an increase in workload; introducing flexible working hours and holding meetings between managers and employees to discuss daily challenges.”
The study’s authors noted that its limitations include that all participants were white-collar workers, including managers, professionals and office staff in Canada, meaning the results may not be relevant to other groups of workers or those working in different countries.
