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.