The psychosocial work environment of younger men surviving acute myocardial infarction

In a retrospective, consecutive case-control study, the psychosocial work environment of 52 men younger than 55 years, who had survived an acute myocardial infarction, was analysed with respect to workload and work quality using a comprehensive self-administered questionnaire. Patients more frequently reported exhaustion after work, had less responsibility at their job, held less well esteemed positions, and had less possibility of social contact during working hours. These differences bore no simple relationship to social class or conventional risk factor distribution, although higher workloads were associated with a significantly higher frequency of smoking. The study suggests that the ideal cardioprotective job is a well esteemed job at a certain responsibility level with good conditions for social interaction during working hours, in which the experienced job demands are reasonable, and where extra resources are available if needed.