Angina pectoris, job strain, and social status: A cross-sectional study of employed urban citizens

The Job Strain Mode! proposed by Karasek and Theorell was tested on a Danish urban population and found working hours and few social relationships at work were borderline associated with questionnaire positive angina pectoris.

Abstract

As a part of the Copenhagen City Heart Study, the Job Strain Mode! proposed by Karasek and Theorell was tested on a Danish urban population. Participants in the study were 1,049 actively employed men and women. They Tilled in 2 questionnaires on health and workingconditions and went through a medical examination, including measurements of height, weight, and blood pressure and the drawing of a venous. blood sample for determination of serum lipids, fasting glucose, and plasma fibrinogen. Angina pectoris was assessed by a trained nurse according to the Rose and Blackburn questionnaire method (Rose, Blackburn. Gillum. & Prinea). High job strain was defined as the combination of self-assessed high demands and low control at work. Social status was measured on a 5-point scale. Thirty-five cases of questionnaire positive angina pectoris were identified. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed a significant associalion (odds ratio = 2.3.p = 0.02) between high job strain and questionnaire positive angina pectoris independently of coronary risk factors. Systolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein-cho-lesterol ratio, and gender were the only other factors contributing to the final model when a backwards procedure was performed. Entering social network and social status into the analysis did not change the strength of the association. Working hours and few social relationships at work were borderline associated with questionnaire positive angina pectoris.