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Long Working Hours and Prevalence of Hypertension
Study Questions:
Do long working hours increase the risk of masked and sustained hypertension (HTN)?
Methods:
Data from the PROspective Québec (PROQ) Study on Work and Health, a prospective cohort study, were used for this present study. The study population was composed of all white-collar workers from three public institutions in Quebec City, Canada. Blood pressure (BP) was collected at three time points over 5 years in white-collar workers. Workplace clinic BP was defined as the mean of the first three readings taken at rest at the workplace. Ambulatory BP was defined as the mean of the next readings recorded every 15 minutes during daytime working hours. Masked HTN was defined as clinic BP <140/90 mm Hg and ambulatory BP ≥135/85 mm Hg. Sustained HTN was defined as clinic BP ≥140/90 mm Hg and ambulatory BP ≥135/85 mm Hg or being treated hypertension. Workers self-reported working hours. Work hours were grouped into the following categories: 21-34 hours, 35-40 hours, 41-48 hours, and ≥49 hours per week.
Results:
A total of 3,547 white-collar workers with 6,733 observations were included in the present study. The overall prevalence of masked and sustained HTN was 13.5% and 18.7%, respectively. There was no difference in the proportion of men and women in the highest category of working hours (49+ hours/week). The mean age was higher among those with long working hours (49+ hours/week). Participants working long hours had a higher formal education, were employed in greater proportions as professional/executives, and consumed more alcohol. Long working hours were positively associated with masked HTN (prevalence ratio 49+ = 1.70; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-2.64) after adjustment for sociodemographics, lifestyle-related risk factors, diabetes mellitus, family history of cardiovascular disease, and job strain.
Conclusions:
The investigators concluded that long working hours are an independent risk factor for masked and sustained HTN. Workplace strategies targeting long working hours could be effective in reducing the clinical and public health burden of hypertension.
Perspective:
These data suggest that long working hours are independently associated with HTN. Given the high prevalence of long working hours worldwide, opportunities to address elevated BP and HTN as part of workplace wellness are warranted.
Clinical Topics: Prevention, Hypertension
Keywords: Alcohol Drinking, Blood Pressure, Blood Pressure Determination, Education, Professional, Hypertension, Prevalence, Primary Prevention, Risk Factors, Workplace
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