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Associations Between Working Conditions and Angina Pectoris Symptoms Among Employed Women

From the Departments of Public Health (T.L., E.R., S.S.-L., E.L.) and Sociology (P.M.), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; the National Public Health Institute (A.R.), Helsinki, Finland; and the Folkhälsan Research Centre (E.R.), Helsinki, Finland.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Tea Lallukka, MSc, Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. E-mail: tea.lallukka{at}helsinki.fi

Objective: This study aimed to examine whether psychosocial working conditions are associated with angina pectoris (AP) symptoms in women.

Methods: Data were derived from postal questionnaires filled in by 40- to 60-year-old women employed by the City of Helsinki, Finland, in 2000 to 2002 (n = 7093, response rate 67%). AP symptoms were measured by the Rose Questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were carried out to examine AP symptoms as outcome. Independent variables consisted of Karasek’s job demands and job control, work fatigue, working overtime, work-related mental and physical strain, the work–home interface, and social support, adjusted for age. Confounding effects of socioeconomic status, health behaviors (smoking, binge drinking, body mass index), and menopause were also examined. Pregnant women were excluded.

Results: AP symptoms were reported by 6% of participants. Work fatigue was strongly associated with AP. In addition, working overtime, low job control, and high physical strain at work were associated with AP. The associations between psychosocial working conditions and AP symptoms were unaffected by health behaviors, socioeconomic status, or menopause.

Conclusions: Working conditions were associated with the AP symptoms identified by the Rose Questionnaire. Longitudinal studies are needed to disentangle the causal relationships, i.e., whether psychosocial stress is a true risk factor/cause of angina symptoms and cardiovascular disease among women.

Key Words: working conditions • chest pain • women • Rose Questionnaire • angina pectoris symptoms • psychosocial factors

Abbreviations: AP = angina pectoris symptoms; BMI = body mass index.

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