Work-related stress that stems from job strain and a perceived imbalance between effort and reward may raise the risk of developing an abnormal heart rhythm condition, new research suggests. The study , published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, found adults in white-collar jobs in Canada who faced high levels of job strain and who felt their efforts were poorly rewarded had a substantially higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation, or AFib, than their peers who felt less stressed. "Our study suggests that work-related stressors may be relevant factors to include in preventive strategies," senior author Dr.
Xavier Trudel said in a news release . Trudel is an occupational and cardiovascular epidemiologist and an associate professor at Laval University in Quebec City in Canada. AFib, the most common type of abnormal heart rhythm, can lead to stroke, heart failure and other cardiovascular complications.
The American Heart Association estimates more than 12 million people in the U.S. will have the condition by 2030.
Prior research has linked job strain and effort-reward imbalances to an increased risk of coronary heart disease. Trudel said his team previously published research suggesting that reducing psychosocial work stressors, such as by implementing flexible work hours or slowing the pace of work on large projects, could lower blood pressure. The new study is the first to investigate the link between job strain and effort-reward imbalances and .