Low pay and high work stress can increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm problems Low-paid workers under high stress had a nearly doubled risk of atrial fibrillation High job stress and low reward also increased risk of A-fib independently THURSDAY, Aug. 15, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Low-paid employees under crushing work stress have a nearly doubled risk of developing a dangerous heart rhythm disorder, a new study finds. White-collar workers with high-stress, low-reward jobs have a 97% increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation , which increases a person’s risk of stroke and heart failure, researchers report.
“Our study suggests that work-related stressors may be relevant factors to include in preventive strategies” targeting heart disease, said senior study author Xavier Trudel , an occupational and cardiovascular epidemiologist at Laval University in Quebec, Canada. For the study, Trudel and his colleagues analyzed data on more than 5,900 Canadian workers gathered during a research project from 1991 to 2018. The employees were asked about their work stress, and medical records revealed that 186 of the workers had developed atrial fibrillation, or A-Fib.
About 19% of those with A-Fib said they had high job stress, while another 25% said their work wasn’t being adequately rewarded with recognition or better pay. About 10% said they had stress and also felt poorly rewarded for their work. Those with high job stress had an 83% increased risk of A-Fib compared .