The Association between Job Strain and Atrial Fibrillation: Results from the Swedish WOLF Study. (18th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fransson, Eleonor I.; Stadin, Magdalena; Nordin, Maria; Malm, Dan; Knutsson, Anders; Alfredsson, Lars; Westerholm, Peter J. M.
• Other Names: Cesana Giancarlo Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: BioMed research international. Volume 2015(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-10-18
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Life sciences -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1155/2015/371905
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2314-6133

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction . Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common heart rhythm disorder. Several life-style factors have been identified as risk factors for AF, but less is known about the impact of work-related stress. This study aims to evaluate the association between work-related stress, defined as job strain, and risk of AF. Methods . Data from the Swedish WOLF study was used, comprising 10, 121 working men and women. Job strain was measured by the demand-control model. Information on incident AF was derived from national registers. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between job strain and AF risk. Results . In total, 253 incident AF cases were identified during a total follow-up time of 132, 387 person-years. Job strain was associated with AF risk in a time-dependent manner, with stronger association after 10.7 years of follow-up (HR 1.93, 95% CI 1.10–3.36 after 10.7 years, versus HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.67–1.83 before 10.7 years). The results pointed towards a dose-response relationship when taking accumulated exposure to job strain over time into account. Conclusion . This study provides support to the hypothesis that work-related stress defined as job strain is linked to an increased risk of AF.