Occupational Differences in C-Reactive Protein Among Working-Age Adults in South Korea. Issue 3 (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Yongjoo; Zaitsu, Masayoshi; Tsuno, Kanami; Li, Xiaoyu; Lee, Sunmin; Jang, Soong-nang; Kawachi, Ichiro
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 62:Issue 3(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: cardiovascular disease -- C-reactive protein -- inflammation -- occupational health -- social gradient -- socioeconomic status; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001781
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To examine the association between occupational class and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in Korean workers. Methods: We used a nationally representative sample of Koreans ( n = 2591) aged 19 to 65 years from the 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The concentration of hsCRP (mg/L) was assessed by a high sensitivity immunoturbidimetric assay. Current occupation was categorized as: white-collar (managers/professionals), pink-collar (clerks/service/sales), blue-collar (craft/equipment/machine-assembling, agricultural/forestry/fishery, and elementary-level labor), or unemployed. Cross-sectional linear regression models adjusted for sociodemographic/work-related/health conditions and behaviors. Results: Compared with blue-collar workers, white-collar workers showed significantly higher levels of hsCRP ( β = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.30) after adjusting for all covariates, whereby the pattern was more pronounced among professionals. However, the association was not significant for unemployed and pink-collar workers. Conclusions: Findings suggest that Korean white-collar workers, particularly professionals, have elevated levels of inflammation.