Occupational cardiovascular disease

Occupational cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are diseases of the heart or blood vessels caused by working conditions,^[1] making them a form of occupational illness.^[2] These diseases include coronary heart disease, stroke, cardiomyopathy, arrythmia, and heart valve or heart chamber problems. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide.^[3][4] In the United States, cardiovascular diseases account for one out of four deaths.^[5] The 6th International Conference on Work Environment and Cardiovascular Diseases found that within the working age population about 10-20% of cardiovascular disease deaths can be attributed to work.^[6] Ten workplace stressors and risk factors (shift work, long work hours, low job control, low job security, high job demand, work-family imbalance, low work social support, low organizational justice, unemployment, and no health insurance) were estimated to be associated with 120,000 U.S. deaths each year and account for 5-8% of health care costs.^[7]

Research related to the association between work and cardiovascular disease is on-going. Links have been established between cardiovascular disease risk and occupational exposure to chemicals, noise, psychosocial stressors, physical activity, and certain workplace organization factors. Additionally, work-related risk factors for cardiovascular disease may also increase the risk of other cardiovascular disease risk factors such as hypertension,^[8][9] diabetes,^[10][11][12] obesity,^[13][14] unhealthy diet,^[15] leisure-time physical inactivity,^[14] and excessive alcohol use.^[16] Work may also increase risk of depression,^[17] burnout,^[18] sleeping problems,^[19] and physiological and cardiorespiratory stress mechanisms in the body which may also affect the risk for cardiovascular disease.