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Study High stroke risk due to long working hours
Overtime at work is normal for many Germans, and working people barely dare to talk about a 35-hour workweek today. Most full-time employees have a work contract with more than 40 hours of weekly working time, and the self-employed can easily reach 50 hours or more. For health, these working hours are extremely disadvantageous according to a recent study. For example, the risk of stroke increases as soon as 41 working hours per week and the probability of cardiovascular diseases is significantly increased. Workaholics have a health risk that should not be underestimated.
The international research team led by Mika Kivimäki, Professor of Epidemiology at University College London, has evaluated data from 25 previous studies in Europe, the US and Australia in the current study. The scientists examined the relationship between working hours and the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and the risk of stroke. It became clear that there is a drastic increase in the number of strokes associated with increasing weekly working hours. Even with coronary heart disease increased at high weekly working hours, the risk, but much less dramatic. The researchers have published their findings in the journal "The Lancet".
Weekly working hours have a significant impact on health. (Image: Andrey Popov / fotolia.com) Data taken from over one million patients
Overall, the researchers included 603,838 people who did not have CHD at baseline for the meta-analysis of coronary heart disease. The meta-analysis of stroke risk was based on data from 528,908 men and women who had not previously had a stroke. In the average observation period of seven to eight years, a total of 4,768 subjects suffered coronary heart disease and 1,722 a stroke. Scientists continued to investigate the relationship between illness and weekly working hours. Already from 41 hours a week working time was compared to the comparison group (35 to 40 hours working time) a ten percent increased stroke risk.
Stroke risk increased by up to 33 percent
Stroke risk is 10 percent higher at 41 to 48 hours per week, 27 percent at 49 to 54 hours per week, and 33 percent at more than 55 hours per week, Kivimäki and colleagues report. The extremely long working hours (over 55 hours per week) were also accompanied by a 13 percent increased risk of coronary heart disease. Even taking into account other risk factors, such as alcohol and tobacco consumption or obesity, the relationship has been confirmed. The researchers suggest that the stress of working long hours leads to biological changes in the body that can trigger deadly diseases over time. But also the lack of exercise during working hours may play a role here. Healthcare professionals should be aware of the fact that working long hours is associated with a significantly increased risk of stroke and perhaps coronary heart disease, says Mika Kivimäki.
Working hours are very different internationally
The current study by Kivimäki and colleagues provides the "strongest evidence to date of a causal relationship between long working hours and one aspect of cardiovascular disease, namely strokes," explains Swedish researcher Urban Janlert from Umeå University in a commentary by the journal "The Lancet". , However, the authors would make less convincing connections between long working hours and coronary heart disease. Overall, however, working conditions are important determinants of health, which can sometimes be difficult to change (for example civil engineering, climatic conditions or toxic exposures). The length of a working day, however, is a human decision and if long working hours pose a risk to health, it should be possible to shorten them, emphasizes Urban Janlert. Turkey has particularly long working hours in international comparisons, where 43 percent of working people work more than 50 hours a week, while less than one percent of working people in the Netherlands work hours, according to Janlert. Overall, in the OECD countries, an average of 12 percent of working men and 5 percent of working women would work more than 50 hours a week.
Shortening of working hours appropriate?
Professor Martin Grond of the board of the German Society of Neurology told the news channel "n-tv" that the current study results are very interesting and the connection between the long weekly working hours and the significantly increased risk of stroke is a surprise even for neurologists. Previously, workaholics were more likely to be considered a risk factor for a heart attack. Further studies should now clarify how the relationship between working hours and strokes arises. For example, stress, lack of sleep or high blood pressure could play a role. According to the expert, the current results should motivate frequent workers to "avoid additional risk factors and pay particular attention to a healthy lifestyle and adequate compensation." An appropriate work-life balance is in view of the clear link between working hours and stroke Risk urgently appropriate. Here the current study seems to be a good basis for the reopening of the discussion about the 35 hours week, because the weekly working hours usual in Germany today obviously represent a health risk. (Fp)