Association of Occupational Stress and Cardiorespiratory Fitness with Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Office Workers / 대한스포츠의학회지

ABSTRACT

Occupational stress is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), while cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with decreased risk of CVD. We tested the hypothesis that high occupational stress would be associated with increased cardiovascular risk profiles, but CRF may attenuate this association. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis in 70 healthy office workers (male, 28; female, 42; mean age, 38±8 years). Occupational stress was assessed using a validated self-reported questionnaire. Total CVD risk score (sum of z-standardized residuals) was calculated by blood pressure, body mass index, lipid profiles and glucose. CRF was estimated by predicted equation during maximal treadmill exercise test. The results showed that an interpersonal conflict as an index of occupational stress was positively correlated with cardiovascular risk score (r=0.43, p0.05). Furthermore, Participants with high stress but high CRF had lower cardiovascular risk score than those with high stress but low CRF (p<0.05). In conclusion, occupational stress is associated with an increased CVD risk, but CRF attenuated this association in office worker with increased occupational stress.