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Job characteristics and blood coagulation factors in Korean male workers
Sei Jin Chang1, Sang Baek Koh, Bong Suk Cha
1Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute of Occupational Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Gangwondo 220-701, South Korea. chang@wonju.yonsei.ac.kr
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Job strain may increase cardiovascular disease risk by affecting blood coagulation factors. This study found job strain linked to higher factor VIII levels in Korean male workers, suggesting a connection between work characteristics and heart health.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Cardiovascular Disease Research
- Biomedical Science
Background:
- Karasek's job strain model is a framework for understanding workplace stress.
- Job strain and blood coagulation factors are potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- The relationship between job strain and specific coagulation factors in Korean male workers requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between Karasek's job strain model components and blood coagulation factors VII and VIII.
- To determine if job strain is an independent risk factor for CVD in Korean male workers, considering coagulation factors.
Main Methods:
- Stratified sampling of 160 Korean male workers (40 per subgroup) from a base population of 1071.
- Univariate analyses to assess relationships between decision latitude, work demand, and coagulation factors VII and VIII.
- Hierarchical multiple regression analyses to evaluate job strain's association with factor VIII, controlling for traditional CVD risk factors.
Main Results:
- Decision latitude showed a negative correlation with blood coagulation factors VII and VIII.
- Work demand was positively associated with coagulation factor VIII but not factor VII.
- Job strain was significantly associated with elevated blood coagulation factor VIII after adjusting for smoking, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
Conclusions:
- Job characteristics, specifically job strain, may influence blood coagulation processes.
- This association suggests a potential pathway through which occupational factors contribute to cardiovascular disease development.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms linking job strain, coagulation, and CVD risk.
Abstract:
This study examined the possible relationship between Karasek's job strain model and blood coagulation factors VII and VIII as risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Korean male workers. Based on the postulation of the model, we invited 160 male workers (40 people each subgroup) using a stratified sampling from the base population (n = 1071). In univariate analyses, decision latitude was negatively related to blood coagulation factors VII and VIII. Work demand was positively related to coagulation factor VIII, but not to factor VII. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that job strain was associated with blood coagulation factor VIII after controlling for smoking, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol. These results indicate that job characteristics may be related to blood coagulation, and contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease with other classical risk factors.