Original scientific paper
Influence of Psychosocial Work-Related Factors on Conventional Risk Factors of Ischemic Heart Disease and Homocysteine in Slovenian Male Workers
Tihomir Ratkajec
Marjan Bilban
Radovan Starc
Abstract
The influence of psychosocial work-related factors on the conventional risk factors of ischemic heart disease (IHD),
particularly on the lipid changes and their effect on homocysteine is studied in this paper. Employed males aged 35 to 55
with angina pectoris or a myocardial infarction (IHD group) were compared to a group of individuals without ischemic
heart disease (Control Group). Psychosocial factors were assessed using a Swedish Theorell questionnaire. The IHD
Group was found to be at a higher risk of IHD due to higher work demands (OR = 1.25), worse job control (OR = 1.23),
frequent smoking (OR = 2.2), leadership positions (OR = 3.97), higher BMI (p = 0.059) and higher levels of triglycerides
(p = 0.005) and LDL-cholesterol (OR = 1.65). The level of HDL-cholesterol was significantly lower (1.0 vs. 1.4
mmol/L, p < 0.001, OR =1,64), while the level of C-reactive protein (9.1 vs. 1.8 mg/L) and Interleukin-6 (6.5 vs. 1.6 ng/L)
was higher. Homocysteine levels showed borderline significance (p = 0.056). Our study suggests a possible influence of
psychosocial work-related factors on IHD risk factors, most of all on low HDL-cholesterol. No connection was found between
psychosocial factors and the homocysteine level, shown to be an IHD risk factor at lower levels of approximately 10
mmol/L.
Keywords
risk factors; ischemic heart disease; HDL-cholesterol; homocysteine; Slovenia
Hrčak ID:
27183
URI
Publication date:
7.7.2008.
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