Relationship between job stress and functional dyspepsia in display manufacturing sector workers: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Job stress has been reported as a risk factor of psychological changes, which have been shown to be related to gastrointestinal diseases and symptoms such as functional dyspepsia. However, few studies have assessed the relationship between job stress and functional dyspepsia. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between job stress and functional dyspepsia in South Korea. METHODS: This study was conducted between May 23 and July 6, 2016 and included 901 workers in the display manufacturing sector. Subjects completed self-reported questionnaires, regarding Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS), functional dyspepsia, Insomnia Severity Index-K, and health-related behaviors and job characteristics. Subjects were divided into functional dyspepsia-positive and -negative groups based on the Rome III criteria. The KOSS high-risk group was defined as subjects with KOSS score above the 75 percentile of KOSS reference value. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between job stress and functional dyspepsia. RESULTS: In women, the risk of functional dyspepsia was significantly higher in the high-risk groups of the following KOSS subcategories in unadjusted model: job demand (OR 3.282, 95% CI 1.181-9.126), and occupational climate (OR 2.665, 95% CI 1.041-6.823). Even in adjusted model, the risk was significantly higher in the high-risk groups of the following KOSS subcategories: job demand (OR 3.123, 95% CI 1.036-9.416) and occupational climate (OR 3.304, 95% CI 1.198-9.115). In men, the risk of functional dyspepsia was not significant in all KOSS subcategories. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that job demand and occupational climates were associated with functional dyspepsia in female display manufacturing sector workers. Therefore, both clinical and mental health approaches should be used in the management of functional dyspepsia in women.

The Effect of Employment and Occupational Factors on Late-Life Depression in Korea.

OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the prevalence of depression using Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) across general and occupational characteristics in older Koreans and identified associations between depression and occupational factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and analyzed 2426 participants (more than 50 years older). Complex sample logistic regression analysis was performed after adjusting general characteristics. RESULTS: Using Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data we identified the employment status and occupational factors (working hours per week, working status, occupation type, working schedule) are associated with the prevalence of late-life depression after adjusting general characteristics among older Korean men. CONCLUSIONS: The occupational environment associated with mental health is an important social issue for increasingly aging workers. There is a need for appropriate occupational environments and high-quality occupations enabling older people to work with public interest and collaborative effort of social and governmental institutions.

Night shift work and inflammatory markers in male workers aged 20-39 in a display manufacturing company.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the association between shift work and inflammatory markers, which are independent risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, in male manual workers at a display manufacturing company. METHODS: This study was conducted between June 1 and July 31, 2015 on 244 male manual workers aged 20-39 years old at a display manufacturing company and investigated age, marital status, education level, alcohol consumption habit, smoking habit, regular exercise habit, sleep duration, sleep debt, sleep insufficiency, past medical history, current and past shift work experience, duration of shift work, and weekly work hours through face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires and performed blood tests. Study participants were divided into daytime, former shift, and current shift workers based on the work schedule. Chi-square tests and one-way analyses of variance were performed to compare inflammatory markers and cardiovascular disease risk factors, and analyses of covariance were conducted after adjusting for variables potentially affecting inflammatory markers. RESULTS: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP; mean ± standard deviation) levels in daytime, former shift, and current shift workers were 0.65 ± 0.43, 0.75 ± 0.43, and 0.86 ± 0.72 mg/L, respectively (p = 0.029). The leukocyte count (mean ± standard deviation) was 5,556 ± 1,123, 6,210 ± 1,366, and 6,530 ± 1,216 cells/µL, respectively (p < 0.001). Both hs-CRP level and leukocyte count were significantly higher in current shift workers than in daytime workers, and leukocyte count was higher in former shift workers than in daytime workers. After adjusting for variables potentially affecting inflammatory markers, hs-CRP levels (adjusted mean ± standard deviation) in daytime and current shift workers were 0.59 ± 0.06 and 0.92 ± 0.07 mg/L, respectively (p = 0.002). The leukocyte count (adjusted mean ± standard deviation) was 5,557 ± 124 and 6,498 ± 144 cells/µL, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A significant association between shift work and increases in inflammatory markers was confirmed. Because chronic low-grade inflammation plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular diseases, regular follow-up of inflammatory markers as a marker of cardiovascular diseases in shift workers may serve as an early indicator in predicting the effects of shift work on health.