Work-related stress caused by job strain and an imbalance between efforts applied vs. rewards received may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association , an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association. Also known as AFib or AF, atrial fibrillation is the most common form of arrhythmia – an abnormal heart rhythm.
It can lead to stroke, heart failure or other cardiovascular complications. More than 12 million people are projected to have AFib in the United States by 2030, according to the American Heart Association's 2024 heart disease and stroke statistics. Previous research linked high job strain and effort-reward imbalance at work with an increased risk of coronary heart disease.
This research is the first to examine the adverse effect of both psychosocial stressors at work on atrial fibrillation, said the study's senior author Xavier Trudel, Ph.D., an occupational and cardiovascular epidemiologist and associate professor at Laval University in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
Our study suggests that work-related stressors may be relevant factors to include in preventive strategies. Recognizing and addressing psychosocial stressors at work are required to foster healthy work environments that benefit both individuals and the organizations where they work." Xavier Trudel, Ph.
D., occupational and cardiovascular epidemiologist and associate professor, Laval .